Zulu dancing shield spear and knobkerrie
 

Hello everyone, thought I would post this for comment and interest. I have owned it for 20 years and obtained it from someone who had spent many years in South Africa and had been given them from friends he had made there. He also had a War Shield but could not be persuaded to part with it.
Regards
Miguel

Obviously of no interest judging by the absence of any comments but never the less I will add some dimensions to the items so the info is complete.

Shield:- 31 ins x 16 ins made from cow hide.

Central carrying stick 44 ins long with animal fur at top end.

Knobkerrie:- 35 ins lg with 0.875 ins dia shaft and 2.5 ins dia ball. I don't know the wood type.

Spear:- 35 ins lg wit 9 ins x 1.25 ins wide rough forged blade the socket of which is covered with fur.
Miguel

Hi
My understanding of Zulu spears is that they never had sockets
Just a tang embedded in the shaft and bound by leather cow tail sheath which is shrunk over the tang to bind all together
If you show better pictures of the socket it would help identification
Regards
Ken

Hello Ken,

I don't know about the Assegi but you are certainly correct with regard to the Iklawa (stabbing spear ) introduced by Shaka. The picture of the spear is poor, I have to agree, but I don't take particularly good pictures due to having partially double vision which makes it difficult to focus so I do the best I can. These were taken some time ago when I was redearching my collection and are now in a storage box in the loft but if you can bear with me I will try to take clearer photos as I would like to know your opinion. Thank you for your interest.
Regards
Miguel

Hi Miguel

Due to the rather crude workmanship, lack of wear etc., these are probably mid twentieth century or later, made either for indigenous dancing/display or selling to tourists.

Old South African assegai did not have the hide binding stitched like that, it was
slid over the join unbroken, when wet from the cow's tail

Hi Colin,

Thank you for your informative comments, you have confirmed my own thoughts. Not having the knowledge I was not completely sure, thanks again.
Miguel