2nd October 2012, 03:20 PM | #1 |
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COWRIE DECORATED HIDE
I know this is not a weapon but seems interesting and I wondered if any members have seen anything like this . It is thick rough hide decorated mainly with small cowrie shells and occasional old glass beads . It is certainly old and at firrst I thought it might be a waist belt / sash as it has a 'tail' though I cannot see any trace as to how it might have fastened . The 'body' is is 90 x 25 cm and the 'tail' a further 45 cm.
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2nd October 2012, 03:36 PM | #2 |
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No idea I'm afraid - cowries were used as currency at least in the Sahel regions. Some sort of money belt?
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2nd October 2012, 03:56 PM | #3 | |
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3rd October 2012, 05:34 AM | #4 |
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Very similar, to Native American "Wampum". These were belts, or pieces of leather, decorated with beads, and shells, and used for currency. If I recall correctly, Manhatten Island was purchased with mostly Wampum.
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3rd October 2012, 09:02 AM | #5 | |
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3rd October 2012, 09:42 AM | #6 |
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This is an article of costume from East Africa. The beads and cowries sewn on to hide are typical...
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3rd October 2012, 01:22 PM | #7 | |
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3rd October 2012, 07:30 PM | #8 |
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This is from Ethiopia, I have seen them there.
Here is a very similar example from the National Museum in Addis Ababa. |
3rd October 2012, 09:44 PM | #9 | |
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