2 old African spears straight from the junkshop

Freddy · 29th August 2006, 10:54 AM

Now and then, I visit some "junkshops" in my city. Most of the time, there‘s nothing to be found.

But yesterday, I was lucky. Somewhere in a dark corner, I found these two pieces :

1) A harpoon from the Mongo-tribes in Congo. Length : 164 cm. With a well forged spear blade in the form of an arrow. On the shaft, there are some remains of the woven cord which is used to secure the spear point. When thrown at an animal, It's purpose is to unwind, so that the shaft would make it difficult for the animal to enter the bush.
A nice feature is also the copper rings at the bottom of the shaft used as counterweight and decoration.

2) A small spear used by the Lia-, Konda- and Nkundu-tribes. Length : 134 cm. Typical lightweight shaft (a bit bent).
The spear blade seems to be badly damaged. If you check the books, you will notice that these spear points are intentionally made like this. I don't know why.

When I found these two spears, they were in a terrible state. All covered with rust.

After some ‘elbow grease‘, the result is satisfactory

These two pieces certainly are old. They probably were forgotten on some attic, until it was cleaned up. The owners sold them to the junkshop. You wouldn't believe what I had to pay for them

Freddy · 29th August 2006, 10:59 AM

By the way, this is how a good Lia-, Konda- or Nkundu-spear shoul look like (picturer from 'Waffen aus Zentral-Afrika' - Sammlung Museum für Völkerkunde, Frankfurt am Main - 1985)

Flavio · 29th August 2006, 11:09 AM

Hello Freddy, nice finds!! I like especially the harpoon

Congoblades · 29th August 2006, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddy

These two pieces certainly are old. They probably were forgotten on some attic, until it was cleaned up. The owners sold them to the junkshop. You wouldn't believe what I had to pay for them

Hi Freddy, your lucky day indeed... Very nice, the Lia-, Konda- or Nkundu-spear, something special. and yes I am intrested, I give you twice the price you paid for it

My experience is that even in belgium most people don't know the value of these items, somethimes the price is just ridiculous cheap.

Guy

Freddy · 29th August 2006, 01:11 PM

Yes, Guy. The price on these two was ridiculous.

Here are some pics of a 'better' Lia-spear, more sophisticated. Notice the spirally turned shaft. According to the books, this is typical for these spears and also a sign of quality.

And together with this spear goes an all wooden shield. Length : 129 cm, width : 17,5 cm. This shield is carved from one piece of wood (also the handle).
The front of the shield is painted

Congoblades · 29th August 2006, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddy

Yes, Guy. The price on these two was ridiculous.

Here are some pics of a 'better' Lia-spear, more sophisticated. Notice the spirally turned shaft. According to the books, this is typical for these spears and also a sign of quality.

And together with this spear goes an all wooden shield. Length : 129 cm, width : 17,5 cm. This shield is carved from one piece of wood (also the handle).
The front of the shield is painted

I like those spears, nice shaft! About the shield, I think I have the same, or almost

, have to collect later this day. The front is carved and is, if it's correct what they told me, painted with chickenblood? it should be very old..., I list some picture's this evening.

Tim Simmons · 29th August 2006, 06:41 PM

Excellent, what a good day. Ahh that feeling, makes you eager for the next sortie.

Battara · 29th August 2006, 08:43 PM

Love your "junk".

Congoblades · 29th August 2006, 08:58 PM

Here some pictures of the shield, is a bit fragiel from age I assume.

katana · 29th August 2006, 11:00 PM

Unfortunately........junk shops in Britain....only sell.......JUNK

Freddy · 30th August 2006, 09:18 PM

Guy, your shield looks like an old piece. I don't know about the chicken blood. I think it had a hard life.

Chicken blood is used on statues, that's true. But I never heard that tribes in the Congo worshipped their shields.
There are some good pics of this type of shield in the book : 'Shields - Africa, Southeast Asia and Oceania' from the Collection of the Barbier-Mueller Museum in Geneva. (pages 83 and 85).
There's also a basketry shield with the same narrow design from the same area as ours.

Anyway, here are some pics of my shield. Although faded, the colours are still there. Mostly blue, red and white.
My shield also has some engravings, like yours.

Freddy · 30th August 2006, 09:25 PM

I tried to do magic with my pics, but I failed

I'll have to ask my son again

Here are they again :

That's better, I hope

29th August 2006, 10:54 AM	#1
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	2 old African spears straight from the junkshop Now and then, I visit some "junkshops" in my city. Most of the time, there‘s nothing to be found. But yesterday, I was lucky. Somewhere in a dark corner, I found these two pieces : 1) A harpoon from the Mongo-tribes in Congo. Length : 164 cm. With a well forged spear blade in the form of an arrow. On the shaft, there are some remains of the woven cord which is used to secure the spear point. When thrown at an animal, It's purpose is to unwind, so that the shaft would make it difficult for the animal to enter the bush. A nice feature is also the copper rings at the bottom of the shaft used as counterweight and decoration. 2) A small spear used by the Lia-, Konda- and Nkundu-tribes. Length : 134 cm. Typical lightweight shaft (a bit bent). The spear blade seems to be badly damaged. If you check the books, you will notice that these spear points are intentionally made like this. I don't know why. When I found these two spears, they were in a terrible state. All covered with rust. After some ‘elbow grease‘, the result is satisfactory These two pieces certainly are old. They probably were forgotten on some attic, until it was cleaned up. The owners sold them to the junkshop. You wouldn't believe what I had to pay for them

29th August 2006, 10:59 AM	#2
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Lia, Konda or Nkundu spears By the way, this is how a good Lia-, Konda- or Nkundu-spear shoul look like (picturer from 'Waffen aus Zentral-Afrika' - Sammlung Museum für Völkerkunde, Frankfurt am Main - 1985)

29th August 2006, 08:58 PM	#9
Congoblades Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Belgium Posts: 171	Here some pictures of the shield, is a bit fragiel from age I assume. Attached Images

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29th August 2006, 11:09 AM	#3
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Hello Freddy, nice finds!! I like especially the harpoon

29th August 2006, 01:11 PM	#5
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Yes, Guy. The price on these two was ridiculous. Here are some pics of a 'better' Lia-spear, more sophisticated. Notice the spirally turned shaft. According to the books, this is typical for these spears and also a sign of quality. And together with this spear goes an all wooden shield. Length : 129 cm, width : 17,5 cm. This shield is carved from one piece of wood (also the handle). The front of the shield is painted

29th August 2006, 06:41 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Excellent, what a good day. Ahh that feeling, makes you eager for the next sortie.

29th August 2006, 08:43 PM	#8
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	Love your "junk".

29th August 2006, 11:00 PM	#10
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Unfortunately........junk shops in Britain....only sell.......JUNK

30th August 2006, 09:18 PM	#11
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Guy, your shield looks like an old piece. I don't know about the chicken blood. I think it had a hard life. Chicken blood is used on statues, that's true. But I never heard that tribes in the Congo worshipped their shields. There are some good pics of this type of shield in the book : 'Shields - Africa, Southeast Asia and Oceania' from the Collection of the Barbier-Mueller Museum in Geneva. (pages 83 and 85). There's also a basketry shield with the same narrow design from the same area as ours. Anyway, here are some pics of my shield. Although faded, the colours are still there. Mostly blue, red and white. My shield also has some engravings, like yours.

30th August 2006, 09:25 PM	#12
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	I tried to do magic with my pics, but I failed I'll have to ask my son again Here are they again : That's better, I hope