What is it !!!? Ideas, comments please

Tony PP · 24th May 2013, 11:43 AM

Hello,
Just seen this in a village auction. I thought it looked interesting but have little knowledge of edged weapons. Any ideas on what it is and from where would be welcome.

RhysMichael · 27th May 2013, 10:17 PM

Looks like a telek or gozma carried by the Tuareg or Hausa But those that know African daggers better than I do will chime in soon I think

Sajen · 27th May 2013, 10:35 PM

Agree!

RhysMichael · 27th May 2013, 11:02 PM

Thanks Sajen for confirming I have not been on the boards in a long while so my memory could have been way off

Tony since if you can find a copy of it Armes traditionnelles d'Afrique ( by Tristan Bastide I think ) would be a good place to look and maybe African Arms and Armour by Spring

Iain · 28th May 2013, 08:15 AM

It's an arm dagger likely made in Bida by the Nupe. The all brass hilt and scabbard is distinctive.

kronckew · 28th May 2013, 10:44 AM

nice tuareg telek (arm dagger).

RhysMichael · 28th May 2013, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iain

It's an arm dagger likely made in Bida by the Nupe. The all brass hilt and scabbard is distinctive.

Thanks Iain I tend to lump them as Toureg though I know I should not.Its a bad habit. There are so many groups in that area. I do not know enough to know Taureg from Fulani from Hausa from Nupe et al. So always great to learn more from someone who does know the differences.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 3rd June 2013, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony PP

Hello,
Just seen this in a village auction. I thought it looked interesting but have little knowledge of edged weapons. Any ideas on what it is and from where would be welcome.

Salaams Tony PP ~ Why has the decorated brass arm band got uniformally made holes in it and is this the traditional style of arm band or is this a band taken from another item like a coffee pot ?

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Tim Simmons · 3rd June 2013, 06:09 PM

No they are not made from coffee pots. Just like other decoration on weapons the motifs come from a regional cultural pool. Here is one with no holes. The strange thing is that although most of these; although common are superbly made with a blade you could almost bend back to the handle and let go like a spring and carrying great artist merit, are not appreciated in the "market" . Where as just as common items with considerably less skill and artistic mastery command silly high prices. All this contradiction in values is starting to ruin my enjoyment of collecting.[

Iain · 3rd June 2013, 06:12 PM

What Tim said, not made from repurposed items. Bida in Nigeria had and has a long tradition of brass working, and was famed throughout the Sahel for their products.

RhysMichael · 3rd June 2013, 06:29 PM

Decorative motifs are something I wish we discussed even more here. I learn from it every time it is discussed. And often times it gives a great insight into what ethnic group an item actually comes from.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 4th June 2013, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

No they are not made from coffee pots. Just like other decoration on weapons the motifs come from a regional cultural pool. Here is one with no holes. The strange thing is that although most of these; although common are superbly made with a blade you could almost bend back to the handle and let go like a spring and carrying great artist merit, are not appreciated in the "market" . Where as just as common items with considerably less skill and artistic mastery command silly high prices. All this contradiction in values is starting to ruin my enjoyment of collecting.[

Salaams Tim Simmons ~ Thank you for posting those superb examples and apologies for not knowing the details ...

We live and learn !! I immediately dived into my little library and have come up with a number of African designs which I will shoot and post... Some of them are talismanic and others tell different stories..Shukran !!

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

24th May 2013, 11:43 AM	#1
Tony PP Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 26	What is it !!!? Ideas, comments please Hello, Just seen this in a village auction. I thought it looked interesting but have little knowledge of edged weapons. Any ideas on what it is and from where would be welcome. Attached Images

27th May 2013, 10:17 PM	#2
RhysMichael Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 520	Looks like a telek or gozma carried by the Tuareg or Hausa But those that know African daggers better than I do will chime in soon I think Last edited by RhysMichael; 27th May 2013 at 10:28 PM.

3rd June 2013, 06:09 PM	#9
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,806	No they are not made from coffee pots. Just like other decoration on weapons the motifs come from a regional cultural pool. Here is one with no holes. The strange thing is that although most of these; although common are superbly made with a blade you could almost bend back to the handle and let go like a spring and carrying great artist merit, are not appreciated in the "market" . Where as just as common items with considerably less skill and artistic mastery command silly high prices. All this contradiction in values is starting to ruin my enjoyment of collecting.[ Attached Images

27th May 2013, 10:35 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,772	Agree!

27th May 2013, 11:02 PM	#4
RhysMichael Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 520	Thanks Sajen for confirming I have not been on the boards in a long while so my memory could have been way off Tony since if you can find a copy of it Armes traditionnelles d'Afrique ( by Tristan Bastide I think ) would be a good place to look and maybe African Arms and Armour by Spring

28th May 2013, 08:15 AM	#5
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,693	It's an arm dagger likely made in Bida by the Nupe. The all brass hilt and scabbard is distinctive.

28th May 2013, 10:44 AM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,182	nice tuareg telek (arm dagger).

3rd June 2013, 06:12 PM	#10
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,693	What Tim said, not made from repurposed items. Bida in Nigeria had and has a long tradition of brass working, and was famed throughout the Sahel for their products.

3rd June 2013, 06:29 PM	#11
RhysMichael Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 520	Decorative motifs are something I wish we discussed even more here. I learn from it every time it is discussed. And often times it gives a great insight into what ethnic group an item actually comes from.