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#1 |
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: USA Georgia
Posts: 1,599
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Just got this today. 27" long.
Thanks, Lew, for the help in getting it! ![]() I don't know a lot about these. Comments? |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Kent
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Hi Bill,
can't help with the origins...but the wire work looks Southern African area, I have seen similar work (but not the 'bi-coloured effect on yours ...they usually are copper or sometimes, coloured telephone wire ) on the tanged type of spear (head binding), so Zulu is quite possible. It may be the pictures...but has the knobkerrie been varnished ? Regards David |
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#3 |
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: USA Georgia
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What looks like varnish is actually some lemon oil I used to clean it up a bit. I need to dry it off better. I would doubt this is telephone wire.
I have a spear that also has wire work on it, but it is not the 'bi-colored' wire like this one. The seller claims it does come from South Africa and that his great grandfather, who served in the Royal Navy acquired it in 1903 and that the knobkerrie had something to do with the Zulu at Isandhlwana and Rorke's Drift. 1903 would have been about 24 years after that famous battle. If this piece is that old -- which I guess is possible -- it is in very good condition. |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: On the banks of Cut Bank Creek, Montana
Posts: 189
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The bicolored wire is often seen on knobkerrie's and spears in Zululand. All that I have seen carries one characteristic that yours doesn't. All I have seen is beaten, frayed and loose. I believe until some shows me different that the bicolored is older. How old, I don't know.
The old sailor who brought back could be absolutely right when he says it had something to do with the Zulus at Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift...There were Zulus at Rorkes Drift and Isandlwana in 1903. |
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#5 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,771
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Very nice clean example. I am still waiting for a good wired one like this, at the right price. Could be from many people from SA, even Ngoni which makes a huge area.
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#6 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
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Bill that is a super nice knobkerrie probably early 20th or late 19th century. Here is a link to some similar pieces which Tim had posted on another thread.
http://www.michaelstevenson.com/afri...nobkerries.htm Lew |
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#7 | |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: USA Georgia
Posts: 1,599
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![]() Quote:
Thank you several times Lew for your kind assistance! ![]() ![]() ![]() The link shows some pieces that really look like mine. Seems to look most like this one: http://www.michaelstevenson.com/afri...html/11-27.htm North Nguni |
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#8 |
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: On the banks of Cut Bank Creek, Montana
Posts: 189
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Saying Nguni is probably the best way to describe everything in the region.
http://countrystudies.us/south-africa/46.htm Kind of like saying it's Scot when you don't know if its Mcleod or Nicholson. |
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#9 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
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You could fit a Lot of Scotlands in SA with Nguni up to the lakes.
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#10 |
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: USA Georgia
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Here are some pictures of the original collector
the first was taken in 1905 The second in 1925 -- far right the last in 1963. -- right |
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#11 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
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Very touching Bill and I am not joking this time
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