Unusual Knobkerrie.

Norman McCormick · 25th June 2022, 02:15 PM

Hi,
This belongs to a friend and he has asked me to find out more re the where and the when therefore I would appreciate your assistance in helping him. There is some possible provenance as the owners great grandfather was a civilian contracted carpenter to the British Army in South Africa during the Boer War and this may be how it came into the family ownership but as you know 'family history' is sometimes rather short on accuracy. The shaft is 43 cms and the circumference of the head 29 cms and it would appear to have been varnished at some time. The decoration on the head is somewhat unusual, a mixture of nailed on metal fittings of some type. I could, if anybody needs, get physical access to the piece and take more photographs.
Regards,
Norman.

kronckew · 26th June 2022, 06:04 PM

The end balls were prone to cracking in storage if you didn't keep them dressed with fat or oils. This could have been an attempt to reinforce the head to prevent cracking, or to limit existing cracks. Dried, oxidized oil could look like varnish & may even have filled some no longer apparent cracks. It of course may just have been an owner's attempt to tart it up a bit. Maybe polished, they were more impressive. Looks like the head is fairly large compared to most. The wire wrap is very 'Zulu' looking.

Norman McCormick · 27th June 2022, 02:13 PM

Hi Wayne,
As the 'decoration' is relatively symmetrical I think added bling is the most probable. I had forgotten that old oil finishes can look like varnish so that is a definite possibility. Always difficult to absolutely tag as Zulu but it does look a likely candidate.
My Regards,
Norman.

Tim Simmons · 27th June 2022, 03:48 PM

Objet trouvé bling as Norman suggests.

Norman McCormick · 28th June 2022, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

Objet trouvé bling as Norman suggests.

Hi Tim.

kronckew · 28th June 2022, 05:34 PM

Yes, decorative, but maybe also useful.

25th June 2022, 02:15 PM	#1
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,575	Unusual Knobkerrie. Hi, This belongs to a friend and he has asked me to find out more re the where and the when therefore I would appreciate your assistance in helping him. There is some possible provenance as the owners great grandfather was a civilian contracted carpenter to the British Army in South Africa during the Boer War and this may be how it came into the family ownership but as you know 'family history' is sometimes rather short on accuracy. The shaft is 43 cms and the circumference of the head 29 cms and it would appear to have been varnished at some time. The decoration on the head is somewhat unusual, a mixture of nailed on metal fittings of some type. I could, if anybody needs, get physical access to the piece and take more photographs. Regards, Norman. Attached Images Last edited by Norman McCormick; 25th June 2022 at 02:25 PM.

26th June 2022, 06:04 PM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,150	The end balls were prone to cracking in storage if you didn't keep them dressed with fat or oils. This could have been an attempt to reinforce the head to prevent cracking, or to limit existing cracks. Dried, oxidized oil could look like varnish & may even have filled some no longer apparent cracks. It of course may just have been an owner's attempt to tart it up a bit. Maybe polished, they were more impressive. Looks like the head is fairly large compared to most. The wire wrap is very 'Zulu' looking.

27th June 2022, 02:13 PM	#3
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,575	Hi Wayne, As the 'decoration' is relatively symmetrical I think added bling is the most probable. I had forgotten that old oil finishes can look like varnish so that is a definite possibility. Always difficult to absolutely tag as Zulu but it does look a likely candidate. My Regards, Norman.

27th June 2022, 03:48 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,736	Objet trouvé bling as Norman suggests.

28th June 2022, 05:34 PM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,150	Yes, decorative, but maybe also useful.