Nigerian, Cameroon stick club

Tim Simmons · 17th May 2008, 08:26 PM

Just picked this intersesting item. 34inches long will post better pictures. Something you do not see every day. I will clean the brass. These are the ebay pictures.

katana · 17th May 2008, 08:37 PM

Very nice Tim,
not so certain about the Zulu 'tag' the seller put on it. Excellent price too

Regards David

Freddy · 18th May 2008, 11:40 AM

Tim, I don't think this 'stick' has an African origin. As far as I can judge from your pictures, you have a 'MAKILA' that is a Basque walking stick. The Basque people live in part of Spain (near the French border). They never left (or leave) home without it. It can be used as a weapon.

Do you already have it at home ? As soon as you get it, you should try to 'unscrew' the top end (with the leather). This will reveal a spike. The other end of the stick is weighted and can be used as a club.

Typical of a 'Makila' is also the decorated wooden shaft. A design is carved into the wood when it is still on the tree. You could say the wood is 'scarred'.

The only thing that seems to be missing from your piece is the horn finial.

Here are some pics of my Basque walking stick (length : 90 cm, approx. 36 inches).

Tim Simmons · 18th May 2008, 12:00 PM

Looks like you are right Freddy. Lucky it was cheap, another piece to go into the loft or in other words the black museum

Thanks Freddy

Freddy · 18th May 2008, 05:50 PM

You could always put it on ebay. These sticks are sought after in France and Spain. They usually fetch good prices.

Tim Simmons · 20th May 2008, 05:41 PM

It is here and I have given it a lick over. I think it is quite old and has some appeal to me. Engraved around the thick part with the iron point are the words "AINCIART+ A + LARRESSORE" something about age/status? and weariness? I might keep it. I could turn up a pommel in some seasoned cherry wood that I have.

Maybe somebody has a piece of cow horn they could send to me

?

This is an ethnographic weapon by our criteria. I am not a collector of European items but all collections have some oddities.

Sending things over 60cm long outside the UK is expensive unless the item is worth a lot so it may have to stay in the UK.

Freddy can you give dimensions of the pommel.

Well what an Idiot

I have just found that this was made by the famous "Ainciart" family of "Larressore" and looking at this site the pommels can be varried.

http://www.makhila.com/pub-anglais/famille/index.htm

17th May 2008, 08:26 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,751	Nigerian, Cameroon stick club Just picked this intersesting item. 34inches long will post better pictures. Something you do not see every day. I will clean the brass. These are the ebay pictures. Attached Images

20th May 2008, 05:41 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,751	Ethongraphic weapon It is here and I have given it a lick over. I think it is quite old and has some appeal to me. Engraved around the thick part with the iron point are the words "AINCIART+ A + LARRESSORE" something about age/status? and weariness? I might keep it. I could turn up a pommel in some seasoned cherry wood that I have. Maybe somebody has a piece of cow horn they could send to me ? This is an ethnographic weapon by our criteria. I am not a collector of European items but all collections have some oddities. Sending things over 60cm long outside the UK is expensive unless the item is worth a lot so it may have to stay in the UK. Freddy can you give dimensions of the pommel. Well what an Idiot I have just found that this was made by the famous "Ainciart" family of "Larressore" and looking at this site the pommels can be varried. http://www.makhila.com/pub-anglais/famille/index.htm Attached Images Last edited by Tim Simmons; 20th May 2008 at 05:55 PM.

17th May 2008, 08:37 PM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Very nice Tim, not so certain about the Zulu 'tag' the seller put on it. Excellent price too Regards David

18th May 2008, 11:40 AM	#3
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Tim, I don't think this 'stick' has an African origin. As far as I can judge from your pictures, you have a 'MAKILA' that is a Basque walking stick. The Basque people live in part of Spain (near the French border). They never left (or leave) home without it. It can be used as a weapon. Do you already have it at home ? As soon as you get it, you should try to 'unscrew' the top end (with the leather). This will reveal a spike. The other end of the stick is weighted and can be used as a club. Typical of a 'Makila' is also the decorated wooden shaft. A design is carved into the wood when it is still on the tree. You could say the wood is 'scarred'. The only thing that seems to be missing from your piece is the horn finial. Here are some pics of my Basque walking stick (length : 90 cm, approx. 36 inches).

18th May 2008, 12:00 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,751	Looks like you are right Freddy. Lucky it was cheap, another piece to go into the loft or in other words the black museum Thanks Freddy

18th May 2008, 05:50 PM	#5
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	You could always put it on ebay. These sticks are sought after in France and Spain. They usually fetch good prices.