Zulu or further north?
 

I purchased this today from a Zulu material collector. He states this piece as Zulu. To me it looks more like work from further north like pieces from what is today Malawi or even up to the Ilemi triangle? I wonder what others might think? The item is heavy, the wood and ivory are built up on a metal rod most likely iron. The ivory does not have matrix of lines as in elephant ivory so I presueme it to be hippo ivory.

I think it's from further north, as the carving and the manner it was executed do not look right to be Zulu, at least in the numerous pieces I've seen and handled over the last thirty years.

The metal rod is not typical of any of their clubs. I've seen North African and Indian walking sticks that are carved and constructed like this, but never a knobkerrie/iwisa.

The ivory ball is way too big and solid to be hippo. It appears to be 2 1/2" or larger in diameter. Have you tested it? From the photo, the color looks a little grey to me, possibly fossilized bone? If it's not elephant or bone, I don't know what else is out there that grows solid teeth or tusks that large.

Many thanks. I am now certain this is most probably from Nyasaland. I am not at home to show it with others. I am now able to give some measurements, just under 47 cm long and a knob diameter of just over 4 cm. So that could well come from a hippo incisor.

These must be for high status people.

This is the best example of the same style of artwork and construction I could find in my books. Although I put it further east, it is north and nowhere near Zulu. The work of Lozi people in what is today Zambi. The adze in the picture is 45cm long the same as my new stick. There is the same carved waist to the wood elements though not as pronounced. The picture is from "The Art Of Southern Africa. The Terence Pethica Colletion, 5continents 2007"

Lovely pieces Tim. You have great taste.

Ian.

Just adding these two pictures from the Leiden museum that show how world wide the baton type status club regalia is. The NW coast American and Guyanan pieces are around the same size as this latest African example.

Nice collection of staffs/clubs! :)

Under the right light it is clearly elephant ivory. Looks like I might be stuck with this one. That hurts so much ;) .

Just received an African piece just as I am going off Africa. Interesting staff, bone and warthog tusk ivory. Not as finely made as the baton but impressive in its own way, would still be a prestige item No evidence of contact with the ground. Would love to know the age, wish these things we collect could talk sometimes. These items all follow a style which is suggested in "The Arts of Southern Africa, Terence Pethica, sandra Klopper and Anita Nettleton, 5 Continents 2005" as Lozi which could mean from Barotseland, Zambia and Northern Zimbabwe.