A Spearhead for Comments
 

Hi all,

Here is a rather lovely spearhead I picked up a while back that I am looking for comments on. It's quite well made, but I wouldn't say high status. It definitely has some age to it which can really be seen with the state of the wood in the socket. My mind initially goes to African, but it does not fit with any of the central or south African spears I have seen. In particular the faceted socket which remind me more of Mughal or Indian spears that I have seen, but it's not quite right and the rest doesn't match that either. The finely wrapped wire has come loose near the top, but below that you can see that it is in finely knotted rows which remind me of some of the grip wrapping I have seen on Moro swords, but here again, the rest doesn't really match. Perhaps northern Africa, but I have not seen a comparable example. Anyway, I'm not really sure where to place this one and I'd love some input. Please feel free to fire away with any thoughts you have.

Very nice spearhead! The length is distinct but overall it looks like it might be of the Somali people or other Horn of Africa ethnic group. The fine brass wire binding on part of the socket looks like other examples I've seen from the region.

- ADS

Thanks for the comments ADS! Do you have any similar examples you could share?

Here are some Somali spears which look similar.
BTW, nice spear head!

Hi, I have included a period photo showing a Somali warrior holding a couple of spears that (to my eyes) appear to have wire binding on most of the socket. I have also included a picture of a spear from my collection that has brass wire on the socket as well.

- ADS

Yes, looks like you nailed it! Sajen, those spears are very similar in profile and only lac the faceted socket, and ADS, it looks like yours demonstrates the faceted socket variation. Thank you for the help with tracking this one down. I can also see the fine knotted wire style in your example ADS. I’d say conclusive.

Now I just need to clean it up a bit. It looks like someone used some spray paint on it at some point in its past to make it look more silver. I’ll clean it off and see how she how she looks. It’s a very thin coat, so shouldn’t be too bad to strip.