afican or indian

weapons 27 · 22nd February 2012, 12:42 PM

hello

I am newcomer in your newsgroup. could you deliver your opinion to me on this part, I do not know if it is African or Indian?

thank you

fernando · 23rd February 2012, 09:55 PM

Hi, weapons 27,
Welcome to the forum

.
Nice piece. I don't think it is African; most possibly Asian.
But let us see what more qualified members say about it.

napoleon · 23rd February 2012, 11:11 PM

well its a nice thing is it an ashanti piece ?regards napoleon

kronckew · 24th February 2012, 12:01 PM

looks like a ram dao from NE india/nepal - i'm assuming the sharp bit is on the inside of the curve. they come in assorted shapes and sizes. used for religious animal sacrifices.

Jim McDougall · 24th February 2012, 10:16 PM

I agree with Kronckew, this is a ram dao type implement used as noted in Northern Bengal, Nepal and Assam. I recall one which it seems was inscribed and apparantly presented to a British plantation owner in Assam, and these weapon/implements were like many of the items from these regions used as both.

Jim McDougall · 24th February 2012, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by napoleon

well its a nice thing is it an ashanti piece ?regards napoleon

Actually Napoleon that was a well placed guess, there is a striking similarity between weapons of West Africa and forms found in the North Indian, Nepal regions and there have been many instances of misclassification. I once researched a short sword from Dahomey known as a 'hwi', which had originally been classified in a collection as coming from Tibet due to the similarity in hilt and brasswork. Apparantly the source for the error was in an old catalog from about 1908 and optimistic suggestion the piece had come from the Younghusband campaign into Tibet. Often items grouped together end up being presumed from the same area when being catalogued.

The matter was resolved when I found an identical example to the piece in the collection in a museum in Belgium, and provenanced to a French officer in Dahomey in 1857.

In any case, I very much appreciate you joining in...there are far too many lurking out there who are afraid to offer suggestions claiming they do not have enough knowledge on topics.....we're all here learning together, and we need more like you who dive in and comment! Thank you and nice work!!!

27, welcome aboard!!! Thank you for joining us and for posting this interesting item!!

All the very best,
Jim

22nd February 2012, 12:42 PM	#1
weapons 27 Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 462	afican or indian hello I am newcomer in your newsgroup. could you deliver your opinion to me on this part, I do not know if it is African or Indian? thank you Attached Images

23rd February 2012, 11:11 PM	#3
napoleon Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 88	no expert but well its a nice thing is it an ashanti piece ?regards napoleon

24th February 2012, 12:01 PM	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,150	looks like a ram dao from NE india/nepal - i'm assuming the sharp bit is on the inside of the curve. they come in assorted shapes and sizes. used for religious animal sacrifices. Attached Images

23rd February 2012, 09:55 PM	#2
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,641	Hi, weapons 27, Welcome to the forum . Nice piece. I don't think it is African; most possibly Asian. But let us see what more qualified members say about it.

24th February 2012, 10:16 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,739	I agree with Kronckew, this is a ram dao type implement used as noted in Northern Bengal, Nepal and Assam. I recall one which it seems was inscribed and apparantly presented to a British plantation owner in Assam, and these weapon/implements were like many of the items from these regions used as both.