Takouba supposedly from the 30's

blue lander · 28th October 2014, 10:57 PM

The seller said he thought this one was made in the 30's. It definitely feels older than my other ones. The pommel is brass and the fullers looked forged. The blade has a bit of a distal taper and it's thicker overall than my newer takoubas. It also feels lumpy like it was pounded into shape.

There's a lot of "seams" visible on the steel. A few run the entire length of the blade. After I cleaned the steel up I noticed a weird splotchy pattern on the blade as well.

Do you think it's really from the 30's? Is it made from spring steel? I assume there weren't a lot of surplus truck suspensions floating around Africa back then.

Kubur · 29th October 2014, 09:34 PM

Hi

I have no problem with 1930ties.
You should look this web site
http://takouba.org/catalog/
You should find yours...

Regards,
Kubur

thinreadline · 30th October 2014, 01:30 AM

Its hard to say, it could be , but equally may well be much later . Was the seller an African arms specialist or an antique dealer. If the latter he may be ( inappropriately ) referencing the geometric patterns and the vivid lime greens as 'African' Art Deco !

blue lander · 30th October 2014, 01:56 AM

The seller didn't seem to have any expertise. He just "thought" it was from the 30's with no explanation for why. I didn't pay much for it so I wouldn't be horrified if it was newer.

Martin Lubojacky · 30th October 2014, 08:49 AM

Hi blue lander,
I would say (just feeling) the sheath is conterporary (due to the relatively fresh colour; witnessed how they made such sheaths a few years ago). Newertheless the sheath is not definitely from the thirties. Also the pommel is dicky (if it is Tuareg from thirties, it would be better worked).
Martin

thinreadline · 30th October 2014, 09:48 AM

Yes I would agree with Martin on the pommel , it does seem poorly executed for the supposed period . My point about the 'Art Deco' dating is based on a similar experience at an antiques fair, where a seller had a similarly decorated scabbard which he 'surmised' was from the 1930s due to the similarity of the patterning to a piece of Clarice Cliff pottery he was also selling ! I really dont think the fashionable European Art Deco movement had much impact on sub Saharan Africa in the 1930s ! I am afraid some dealers just 'wing' it when it comes to ID & dating of items. I remember years ago how a quite eminent member of the Antiques Roadshow admitted to me that when he first started out in the antiques trade , his boss told him , never admit you dont know what an item is or what its age is, just make it up ... nothing deters a potential customer more than a dealer who appears not to know what they are selling !

28th October 2014, 10:57 PM	#1
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	Takouba supposedly from the 30's The seller said he thought this one was made in the 30's. It definitely feels older than my other ones. The pommel is brass and the fullers looked forged. The blade has a bit of a distal taper and it's thicker overall than my newer takoubas. It also feels lumpy like it was pounded into shape. There's a lot of "seams" visible on the steel. A few run the entire length of the blade. After I cleaned the steel up I noticed a weird splotchy pattern on the blade as well. Do you think it's really from the 30's? Is it made from spring steel? I assume there weren't a lot of surplus truck suspensions floating around Africa back then. Attached Images

29th October 2014, 09:34 PM	#2
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Hi I have no problem with 1930ties. You should look this web site http://takouba.org/catalog/ You should find yours... Regards, Kubur

30th October 2014, 01:30 AM	#3
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	Its hard to say, it could be , but equally may well be much later . Was the seller an African arms specialist or an antique dealer. If the latter he may be ( inappropriately ) referencing the geometric patterns and the vivid lime greens as 'African' Art Deco !

30th October 2014, 01:56 AM	#4
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	The seller didn't seem to have any expertise. He just "thought" it was from the 30's with no explanation for why. I didn't pay much for it so I wouldn't be horrified if it was newer.

30th October 2014, 08:49 AM	#5
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 836	Hi blue lander, I would say (just feeling) the sheath is conterporary (due to the relatively fresh colour; witnessed how they made such sheaths a few years ago). Newertheless the sheath is not definitely from the thirties. Also the pommel is dicky (if it is Tuareg from thirties, it would be better worked). Martin

30th October 2014, 09:48 AM	#6
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	Yes I would agree with Martin on the pommel , it does seem poorly executed for the supposed period . My point about the 'Art Deco' dating is based on a similar experience at an antiques fair, where a seller had a similarly decorated scabbard which he 'surmised' was from the 1930s due to the similarity of the patterning to a piece of Clarice Cliff pottery he was also selling ! I really dont think the fashionable European Art Deco movement had much impact on sub Saharan Africa in the 1930s ! I am afraid some dealers just 'wing' it when it comes to ID & dating of items. I remember years ago how a quite eminent member of the Antiques Roadshow admitted to me that when he first started out in the antiques trade , his boss told him , never admit you dont know what an item is or what its age is, just make it up ... nothing deters a potential customer more than a dealer who appears not to know what they are selling !