baton/club

Tim Simmons · 29th July 2007, 05:33 PM

Look at this. You know I like this sort of thing. I was at one time thinking of leaving a bid

. The magic Z word was not even mention. It is not that large either. I have two items in the same line not quite as nice as this which is very nice, £330 worth of nice?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...6488&rd=1&rd=1

Rick · 29th July 2007, 05:44 PM

Tim, this is African ?

Y'know it looks to me like a wood carving of an item made of rope ( Bosun's Starter or Colt ) once used by the Bosun's Mate on the old square riggers, American warships and those of the RN for 'encouraging' laggard sailors.

Freddy · 29th July 2007, 05:45 PM

I saw this one, too. Looks really interesting, but I doubt if it's a tribal piece. It looks more as a thing a sailor made in his spare time during the voyage....But that's only my opinion.

Nevertheless, it's beautifully carved. I wouldn't mind having it (but not at that price).

Tim Simmons · 29th July 2007, 05:51 PM

I thought it far too clever, well practised and above all prestigious for a sailors work killing time. knotting and most of all knot design forms {look at west Africa and Kuba} are not exclusively maritime. I might be pressed into a different opinion

.

kronckew · 29th July 2007, 06:29 PM

it does look a lot like a bosun's 'starter' which was a rope end used to 'encourage' a slow seaman to work faster, and was almost a badge of office. these were frequently embellished with fancy marlinspike knotwork and tarred. the monkey's fist at the end was frequently made up around a spherical core object like a musket ball to add 'authority'. the example in the ebay does appear to be similar to such knotwork, but in wood.

here is a related example, as 'starters' are now illegal to use for us poor sailor types, this one is a bell pull for a ships bell.....

Tim Simmons · 29th July 2007, 07:49 PM

Yes indeed. As such I would imagine it is rather rare and hence the price.

Tim Simmons · 30th July 2007, 09:07 PM

I still think this is African. knots are symbolic world wide.

29th July 2007, 05:33 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	baton/club Look at this. You know I like this sort of thing. I was at one time thinking of leaving a bid . The magic Z word was not even mention. It is not that large either. I have two items in the same line not quite as nice as this which is very nice, £330 worth of nice? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...6488&rd=1&rd=1

29th July 2007, 05:44 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	From The Days of Sail ? Tim, this is African ? Y'know it looks to me like a wood carving of an item made of rope ( Bosun's Starter or Colt ) once used by the Bosun's Mate on the old square riggers, American warships and those of the RN for 'encouraging' laggard sailors. Last edited by Rick; 29th July 2007 at 06:19 PM. Reason: Remembered the term .. added same

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29th July 2007, 05:45 PM	#3
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	I saw this one, too. Looks really interesting, but I doubt if it's a tribal piece. It looks more as a thing a sailor made in his spare time during the voyage....But that's only my opinion. Nevertheless, it's beautifully carved. I wouldn't mind having it (but not at that price).

29th July 2007, 05:51 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	I thought it far too clever, well practised and above all prestigious for a sailors work killing time. knotting and most of all knot design forms {look at west Africa and Kuba} are not exclusively maritime. I might be pressed into a different opinion .

29th July 2007, 06:29 PM	#5
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,184	it does look a lot like a bosun's 'starter' which was a rope end used to 'encourage' a slow seaman to work faster, and was almost a badge of office. these were frequently embellished with fancy marlinspike knotwork and tarred. the monkey's fist at the end was frequently made up around a spherical core object like a musket ball to add 'authority'. the example in the ebay does appear to be similar to such knotwork, but in wood. here is a related example, as 'starters' are now illegal to use for us poor sailor types, this one is a bell pull for a ships bell.....

29th July 2007, 07:49 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Yes indeed. As such I would imagine it is rather rare and hence the price.

30th July 2007, 09:07 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	I still think this is African. knots are symbolic world wide.