An even bigger sucker when it comes to African clubs

Freddy · 18th November 2007, 07:29 PM

This morning, I really couldn't resist.

I know, my wife says I have too much stuff.

At an open weekend at a gallery of a friend I found the most gorgeous club. He told me it came from the Dinka in Sudan. I've looking on the internet and it could also be Shilluk or Nuer, anyway somewhere in South Sudan.

This club consists of a hardwood stick with a metal addition at the top. It seems this 'addition' was once part of some machine. It's secured to the shaft by means of nails, hammered into the top. Beneath the metal head there's a brass ring, probably fitted to prevent the wood from splitting.

It's quite heavy (weighs approx. 650 grs). The total length is 77 cm. The metal head is 2,5 cm thick with a diameter of about 7 cm.

Has anyone seen a similar piece ?

kronckew · 18th November 2007, 08:09 PM

that is a gear from a piece of machinery, looks like a bit from a car differential, makes a nasty mace doesn't it!
BMW 2002 differential bevel gear: (unfortunately broken)

reminds me of the ww1 trench mace head that was supplied to slip onto the handle of the issue entrenching tool in lieu of the shovel/pick head.

here's mine fitted onto a replacement handle:

would definitely ruin your day to be thunked with either. yours is prettier tho.

Tim Simmons · 18th November 2007, 11:06 PM

Freddy I am with you, how could you possible come home without it

. Really fascinating, in the early 20th century the South Sudan was a place of basically naked people not like the people we see today on the TV today.

Jim McDougall · 19th November 2007, 02:36 AM

Interesting new perspective on the concept of the automobile as a weapon!!
I've heard of course of old auto springs being used for blades.....but now the gear for a morning star!!!

beautiful example of tribal ingenuity.

Tim Simmons · 19th November 2007, 10:15 AM

They have utilised a machine part but it is still relates to a traditional form I suspect that was partly the main reason for it being used for a club head. These pictures are of wood examples.
http://southernsudan.prm.ox.ac.uk/de...884.12.9_a.jpg
http://southernsudan.prm.ox.ac.uk/de...84.12.10_b.jpg

kronckew · 19th November 2007, 10:56 AM

similar mace shapes are noted from poland thru the middle east into africa in bronze and stone in pre-history and in wood, iron and steel up to modern times.
i've even seen one made of stone in the aztec/mayan areas of central america.

parallel evolution? form following function? cultural drift? trade? all in all that 'gear' shape and variations makes a wickedly efficient weapon against not only unarmoured but armoured opponents for little expenditure in materials and can be made by relatively unskilled local crafters.

still like freddy's weapon tho. i would have bought it if i''d seen it....

here's an interesting site on maces

Freddy · 20th November 2007, 05:54 PM

By the way, nice site, Kronckew.

This morning this piece arrived from Germany. It's made out of one piece of heavy hardwood. I bought it as 'African', but I'm not sure. The handle is much shorter then the other clubs I have in my collection.

Nice feature is the carved decoration on the head.

Total length : 42 cm

Has anyone a suggestion ?

Freddy · 26th November 2007, 07:59 AM

I did some research on the internet and now I'm sure that the second piece I showed is not an African club. It probably comes from somewhere in the South Sea (Fiji ?).
I think it's a throwing club, called 'ULA'. Has anyone a better idea ?

- - -

The clubs keep coming lately. This third one, I found on ebay. It was offered twice and nobody seemed to be interested.

http://cgi.benl.ebay.be/ws/eBayISAPI...m=280170045540

It wasn't expensive, so I bought it.

When I received it last week, I was happily surprised with the piece. It's beautiful. Again, I think of an African origin. Mainly due to the fact that brass nails were used to embellish it. The small blade on top is well forged.
This club has a good weight to it. At the bottom, a metal ferrule has been added to prevent the wood from splitting.
Total length : 62 cm. Length of knife blade : 10 cm.

Any comments ?

Tim Simmons · 26th November 2007, 09:05 AM

Well done Freddy. I watched that club both times, why did I not have a go at it

I have something comming I think you will like, sadly it was not that cheap but worth the money so untill it arrives.

18th November 2007, 07:29 PM	#1
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	An even bigger sucker when it comes to African clubs This morning, I really couldn't resist. I know, my wife says I have too much stuff. At an open weekend at a gallery of a friend I found the most gorgeous club. He told me it came from the Dinka in Sudan. I've looking on the internet and it could also be Shilluk or Nuer, anyway somewhere in South Sudan. This club consists of a hardwood stick with a metal addition at the top. It seems this 'addition' was once part of some machine. It's secured to the shaft by means of nails, hammered into the top. Beneath the metal head there's a brass ring, probably fitted to prevent the wood from splitting. It's quite heavy (weighs approx. 650 grs). The total length is 77 cm. The metal head is 2,5 cm thick with a diameter of about 7 cm. Has anyone seen a similar piece ?

18th November 2007, 08:09 PM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,150	that is a gear from a piece of machinery, looks like a bit from a car differential, makes a nasty mace doesn't it! BMW 2002 differential bevel gear: (unfortunately broken) reminds me of the ww1 trench mace head that was supplied to slip onto the handle of the issue entrenching tool in lieu of the shovel/pick head. here's mine fitted onto a replacement handle: would definitely ruin your day to be thunked with either. yours is prettier tho. Last edited by kronckew; 18th November 2007 at 08:27 PM.

20th November 2007, 05:54 PM	#7
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	I told you I was a sucker for clubs By the way, nice site, Kronckew. This morning this piece arrived from Germany. It's made out of one piece of heavy hardwood. I bought it as 'African', but I'm not sure. The handle is much shorter then the other clubs I have in my collection. Nice feature is the carved decoration on the head. Total length : 42 cm Has anyone a suggestion ?

18th November 2007, 11:06 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	Freddy I am with you, how could you possible come home without it . Really fascinating, in the early 20th century the South Sudan was a place of basically naked people not like the people we see today on the TV today.

19th November 2007, 02:36 AM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,762	Interesting new perspective on the concept of the automobile as a weapon!! I've heard of course of old auto springs being used for blades.....but now the gear for a morning star!!! beautiful example of tribal ingenuity.

19th November 2007, 10:15 AM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	They have utilised a machine part but it is still relates to a traditional form I suspect that was partly the main reason for it being used for a club head. These pictures are of wood examples. http://southernsudan.prm.ox.ac.uk/de...884.12.9_a.jpg http://southernsudan.prm.ox.ac.uk/de...84.12.10_b.jpg

19th November 2007, 10:56 AM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,150	similar mace shapes are noted from poland thru the middle east into africa in bronze and stone in pre-history and in wood, iron and steel up to modern times. i've even seen one made of stone in the aztec/mayan areas of central america. parallel evolution? form following function? cultural drift? trade? all in all that 'gear' shape and variations makes a wickedly efficient weapon against not only unarmoured but armoured opponents for little expenditure in materials and can be made by relatively unskilled local crafters. still like freddy's weapon tho. i would have bought it if i''d seen it.... here's an interesting site on maces

26th November 2007, 07:59 AM	#8
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	I did some research on the internet and now I'm sure that the second piece I showed is not an African club. It probably comes from somewhere in the South Sea (Fiji ?). I think it's a throwing club, called 'ULA'. Has anyone a better idea ? - - - The clubs keep coming lately. This third one, I found on ebay. It was offered twice and nobody seemed to be interested. http://cgi.benl.ebay.be/ws/eBayISAPI...m=280170045540 It wasn't expensive, so I bought it. When I received it last week, I was happily surprised with the piece. It's beautiful. Again, I think of an African origin. Mainly due to the fact that brass nails were used to embellish it. The small blade on top is well forged. This club has a good weight to it. At the bottom, a metal ferrule has been added to prevent the wood from splitting. Total length : 62 cm. Length of knife blade : 10 cm. Any comments ?

26th November 2007, 09:05 AM	#9
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	Well done Freddy. I watched that club both times, why did I not have a go at it I have something comming I think you will like, sadly it was not that cheap but worth the money so untill it arrives.