Spear No2 for I.D. Please
 

Hi,
This spear came from the same source as the Masai/Maasai? spear on another thread. This one may or may not come from the same peoples. Total length 68 inches (173 cm) head excluding socket 8 inches (20 cm). Although not immediately apparent on the photos the socket is facetted. All assistance gratefully received.
Regards,
Norman.

This is a classic Sudanese broaded bladed spear and from the looks of it, it has good legit age that could date it to the 19th century. I would think it is certainly no more recent than very early 20th century.

Hi Charles,
Many thanks for the prompt reply. Mahdist bringbacks are not uncommon here so you may very well have hit the nail on the head. Thanks again.
My Regards,
Norman.

The dealer who had this on his website a year ago , had it listed as Sudanese. He didn't list the other spear...

Spiral

Hi Jonathan,
No dealers involved?
My Regards,
Norman.

My error then Norman. Apologies, looks identical to me... but haven't kept original photo..

spiral

Hi Norman

The profile of the blade does resemble that of the Baggara spears from the Sudan. However, the central ridge to the blade and socketed butt piece point to Somali origin, probably Somaliland area. Sudanese spears with an Islamic influence normally have an iron coil to the end. The facetted blade socket is also typical Somaliland.

Very nice spear.

Regards.

Hi Colin,
As I said on the Masai post this spear was the one I went to get and the other was with it so nothing lost. Care to estimate the age of this one, in hand it gives the appearance of late 19th early 20thC. Many thanks for your input.
My Regards,
Norman.

Hi Jonathan,
No probs :cool: .
My Regards,
Norman.

The date range you mention seems about right to me from the images, Norman. Here are a couple of extracts from the book "Illustrated Catalogue of Ethnographical Specimens" W. O. Oldman for reference.

Regards
Colin

Many thanks Colin :cool: :)
My Regards,
Norman.

Hi,
These relevant images, as far as I can determine, from the turn of the 19th/20thC.
Rgeards,
Norman.