Accidental collector - old weapons ID assistance (Yao?)

spiral · 7th November 2014, 09:17 PM

Jampot, I can see why you sy it but if it was Arabic script, many people on the website could read it....

That's interesting Colin...

Found a few photos & drawings of him, including this one hoping to see him wearing such a knife. {longshot obviously.}

But the visible sword, once again just looks European rather than African.

But all good knowledge & grist to the mill as they say in Yorkshire...

Spiral

ariel · 7th November 2014, 11:00 PM

I was also convinced that these knives were SE Asian.
But to deny their Malawi origin, I have to deny
A. Reputation and expertise of the British Museum, and
B. Testimony of 3 separate witnesses (donors) attributing each one of them to the same area in Africa.

Also, we are unaware of any other place in the world where similar type is found, weakening theory of their imported origin.

spiral · 8th November 2014, 09:18 AM

I totally agree with points A & B Ariel, & more or less agree with your third point. {Not that that rules it out.} Many wonderfull things made in Sheffield that many are/were unaware of Kachin Dow etc.

But could produced in Africa by Immigrant workers?

That seems quite likely to me?

Failing that, produced in Africa by locals after an suitable apprenticeship would seem the only other likely possibility?

spiral

7th November 2014, 09:17 PM	#1
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Jampot, I can see why you sy it but if it was Arabic script, many people on the website could read it.... That's interesting Colin... Found a few photos & drawings of him, including this one hoping to see him wearing such a knife. {longshot obviously.} But the visible sword, once again just looks European rather than African. But all good knowledge & grist to the mill as they say in Yorkshire... Spiral Attached Images

7th November 2014, 11:00 PM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I was also convinced that these knives were SE Asian. But to deny their Malawi origin, I have to deny A. Reputation and expertise of the British Museum, and B. Testimony of 3 separate witnesses (donors) attributing each one of them to the same area in Africa. Also, we are unaware of any other place in the world where similar type is found, weakening theory of their imported origin.

8th November 2014, 09:18 AM	#3
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	I totally agree with points A & B Ariel, & more or less agree with your third point. {Not that that rules it out.} Many wonderfull things made in Sheffield that many are/were unaware of Kachin Dow etc. But could produced in Africa by Immigrant workers? That seems quite likely to me? Failing that, produced in Africa by locals after an suitable apprenticeship would seem the only other likely possibility? spiral