Zulu Stick ? Certainly seems African.
 

Hi,
Please has anyone any ideas as to origin of this kerrie/stick ? I have seen similar attributed to the Zulu and, similar designed heads on other African clubs. Seems to have decent age.My 'gut feeling' is that it is African and early 20th C ....any suggestions, thank you

OAL 89 cms 'head' 8.5 cms 'high', 5.5 cms at the widest section

Regards David

Hi David

I'm fairly sure its African, but can't say definitely whether from Southern or Eastern Africa. Most likely Southern, they carved sticks and clubs in all sorts of shape varieties...a nice piece.

Regards
Colin

I would agree with Colin that it is African. Just what I like too.

Tim

Not Zulu maybe from Zimbabwe or Tanzania?


Lew

Thank you Gentlemen for your input. :)

So I think we agree 'African' :) ......the closest example I could find was 'deemed' Zulu (pic below) on this website (well worth a visit they have a wonderful collection spanning the world)

http://anthro.amnh.org/anthro_coll.shtml

Kind Regards David


.

Hi Lew :) ,
please could let me know why you think that Zimbabwe or Tanzania is a possibility, do you have examples ? Thank you

Kind Regards David

David

check the link Tim made the same comment on a similar shaped club a while back. Also that reddish wood seems to be Rhodesian Teak as seen on many Gogo tribe clubs most Zulu clubs have made from bicolored or brown coffee colored wood(Assegai wood). In the pic below the two center clubs are of the same wood as Tim's club and they hail from farther north.

Name Rhodesian Teak (Baikiaea plurijuga)
Type Hardwood.

Other Names Also known as Zambesi redwood, umgusi, mukushi and mukusi.
Sources Grows in Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Appearance Fine even texture, straight or slightly interlocked grain, red-brown heartwood, often with black flecks, and much paler sapwood.
Physical Props Very heavy and hard with a high resistance to abrasion. Rates high in bending and crushing strength, decay resistance, and stability in service.
Working Props Has excellent turning properties but is otherwise difficult to work. Has a severe blunting effect on cutting edges and tends to burn during machining. Pre-drilling required for screwing and nailing. Glues, stains, and finishes well.
Uses Used for turned objects, flooring, furniture, wagons and railroad construction.


http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ght=knobkerrie

Hi David,
With my limited knowledge on sticks and clubs, I would presume that the example you have shown as Zulu would be closest in assessment. I think the faceted head on this is most interesting, and wonder why it would be fashioned this way, any peculiar symbolism or perhaps just personal preference. As Colin has noted the variety in forms, what might be the reasons behind the variation?

Also I am curious, what type of wood is used in this ?

All best regards,
Jim

Jim

Take a look above.

Here are a couple of images of a stick I once had, that was from one of the Nguni tribes of South East Africa (eg. Zulu, Swazi, Xhosa), for comparison.

From the top, the outline is a bit similar to Katana's example, but not conclusively so.

The South East African tribes were excellent, artistic woodcarvers and I believe they (the men) usually liked to carry a stick or staff of some sort, partly for defence but also with a strong element of display/part of costume. Hence the wide variety of stylish shapes, protusions, heads etc.

Regards
Colin

Thank you Lew and Colin for the extra input. Lew, it is a shame that we do not have a resource whereby the wood used to make the clubs is not noted....it would certainly help to ID origins.

Nice club Colin....very unusual, never seen this design before.

Hi Jim,
it indeed would be interesting to found out whether there is symbolism, functional design or aesthetics (or a combination) in the many varied clubs we see from Africa. Afterall the club was one of the earliest weapons...even our primate cousins are know to attack each other wielding sticks.

All the best

David