A bronze spear head ... African ?

fernando · 21st January 2009, 08:03 PM

Thank you Lew,
Could it be a currency piece ?
Fernando

Tim Simmons · 21st January 2009, 08:36 PM

You chaps are making my head swell too much. It is true that I have been looking with a vigor into non-ferrous metals in sub-saharan Africa. I also make my living being involved with bronze casting. It looks like bronze to me which in the most basic form is copper and tin as already mentioned. I think Lew is spot on with the western sahara/sahel. The cresent marks are common on many of the blades finished with stamped leather handles and scabbards from Mali and so on.

It is true that bronze, brass, and copper are or have been very special metals. This example only dislays the skill of the smith in forming the blade which would be stock in trade. This could make me think it is latter in production. The maker may not have had access to more skilled engravers? I am reluctant to say anything about age excpet the normal 19/early 20th century. Cearly it has not been made for a high chieftian of royal household but poor people do have culture just the same. Shame there is no haft which might help with showing age. I think it is easy to buy spear head on holiday in Africa?

Lew · 22nd January 2009, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

Thank you Lew,
Could it be a currency piece ?
Fernando

Fernando

More a ceremonial piece I think? Here is one that is from my collection but it is one piece notice the diamond shaped facets cut into the shaft. Yours would probably look the same but with a wooden shaft and a similar end piece.

Lew

katana · 22nd January 2009, 09:49 PM

Hi Lew,
Very nice spear

.... the sheath ( the bulbous disc shaped end) on your spear looks to be from the Dan tribe....do you know if it is ?

Regards David

Lew · 22nd January 2009, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katana

Hi Lew,
Very nice spear

.... the sheath ( the bulbous disc shaped end) on your spear looks to be from the Dan tribe....do you know if it is ?

Regards David

Yes Katana

It is Dan tribe. Actually Charles sold a similar one a few months back but I believe his had a wooden shaft wish I kept a picture of it.

Lew

katana · 22nd January 2009, 10:20 PM

Hi Lew,
thanks for the reply, its just that there is a design on the metal shaft (on yours) the triangles within bands, which is similar to one of my spears...still unidentified, 2nd picture down on this thread
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5772

Regards David

fernando · 22nd January 2009, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

Fernando

More a ceremonial piece I think?

So ceremonial it will be, till sudden distinct evidence; maybe i even find out the tribes it belongs to, one of these days.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

... Here is one that is from my collection but it is one piece notice the diamond shaped facets cut into the shaft. Yours would probably look the same but with a wooden shaft and a similar end piece.
Lew

Very nice piece, that of yours. However i admit i miss the experience to see the similarity between this example and mine

I still feed this fantasy that mine never had a shaft; each fool has his own mania

Fernando

Lew · 23rd January 2009, 01:44 AM

Fernando

I was referring to the the facets on your spear. Your spear could be Hausa but I can't be sure.

21st January 2009, 08:03 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Thank you Lew, Could it be a currency piece ? Fernando

21st January 2009, 08:36 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,844	You chaps are making my head swell too much. It is true that I have been looking with a vigor into non-ferrous metals in sub-saharan Africa. I also make my living being involved with bronze casting. It looks like bronze to me which in the most basic form is copper and tin as already mentioned. I think Lew is spot on with the western sahara/sahel. The cresent marks are common on many of the blades finished with stamped leather handles and scabbards from Mali and so on. It is true that bronze, brass, and copper are or have been very special metals. This example only dislays the skill of the smith in forming the blade which would be stock in trade. This could make me think it is latter in production. The maker may not have had access to more skilled engravers? I am reluctant to say anything about age excpet the normal 19/early 20th century. Cearly it has not been made for a high chieftian of royal household but poor people do have culture just the same. Shame there is no haft which might help with showing age. I think it is easy to buy spear head on holiday in Africa?

22nd January 2009, 09:49 PM	#4
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Lew, Very nice spear .... the sheath ( the bulbous disc shaped end) on your spear looks to be from the Dan tribe....do you know if it is ? Regards David

22nd January 2009, 10:20 PM	#6
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Lew, thanks for the reply, its just that there is a design on the metal shaft (on yours) the triangles within bands, which is similar to one of my spears...still unidentified, 2nd picture down on this thread http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5772 Regards David

23rd January 2009, 01:44 AM	#8
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Fernando I was referring to the the facets on your spear. Your spear could be Hausa but I can't be sure.