Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Weapons

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 20th April 2022, 11:18 AM   #1
newola
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: Cornwall, England
Posts: 9
Default Spear help please

Hello all, I知 new to the forum and would like to say hello and open with asking for some advice if possible. I recently acquired a short spear and have no knowledge as to its origins.

The spear measures 104 cm long and has a socketed head. Both the socket part of the head and the bulbous base of the spear are decorated.

Can anyone please identify it痴 origins? Country, possibly age etc?

Many thanks in advance

Al
Attached Images
   
newola is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th April 2022, 04:05 PM   #2
Tim Simmons
Member
 
Tim Simmons's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,734
Default

This is most interesting and I am so pleased you have shown it here. I have same thing with some obvious differences, a brass blade. It is also the same size 105cm 1cm longer than yours but lets not get too upset about that , its how you use it that matters I am told. In my opinion these spears are from West Africa and I strongly suspect Nigeria Cameroon border regions.

What pleases me most about this thread is when I offered my spear to the well known auction house tribal art expert who like me {except I saw no reason to find fault with the spear} had not seen another. The expert assured me that it was just something cobbled together which is so easy to say with an heir of knowledgeable superiority, and so of no interest. This happens quite often and dare I say it here too. Until ones sees another example it is just one-upmanship. So the more off standard examples of pieces shown here with an open mind will help us all.
Attached Images
    
Tim Simmons is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th April 2022, 04:18 PM   #3
newola
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: Cornwall, England
Posts: 9
Default

Hi Tim. Yes there are some similarities for sure. What I found interesting about my example is the very old fashioned way that it has been repaired. It obviously had some affection from a previous owner to do such a repair.
Attached Images
 
newola is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th April 2022, 06:34 PM   #4
BBJW
Member
 
BBJW's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Idaho, USA
Posts: 225
Default

It looks Somalia/Sudanese area to me. Pre 1900.-- bbjw
BBJW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st April 2022, 01:42 AM   #5
CharlesS
Member
 
CharlesS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Greenville, NC
Posts: 1,855
Default

First example of this type I have seen. Very interesting! I cannot see any characteristics about it that instantly give it away from a specific culture. So I知 anxious to see what others have to say about it, and hopefully you will get a accurate answer.
CharlesS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22nd April 2022, 08:07 AM   #6
colin henshaw
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,430
Default

African spears can often be difficult to attribute (sometimes impossible), however there are a few basic pointers :-

a) Blades with sockets are to be found north of the Zambesi (though there are some exceptions). Tanged spears south of the Zambesi.

b) Incised geometric engraved decoration usually means Islamic influence.

c) Throwing spears tend to longer, lighter and slender. Stabbing spears shorter, with wider blades and more robust.

d) Spears with brass/copper blades or more than one point are normally for prestige, currency, magical/religious use.

e) The diamond shaped brass or copper pieces pined through the shaft as on Tim's spear are typical of spears from northern Nigeria and Cameroon.

As for age - maybe late 19th century to WW2 period ?

Hope this helps.
colin henshaw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22nd April 2022, 08:36 AM   #7
newola
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: Cornwall, England
Posts: 9
Default

Thank you all for your replies and advice, it痴 appreciated. I have a few more items I値l post up in due course.

I値l keep subscribed to this thread in the hope one day it値l be identified to a certain area / region.

Many thanks

Al
newola is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 01:48 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.