Whistlinbill's Collection #4: African

Mauro · 17th February 2012, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee

... and a few more ...

AF16 is my favourite. It is attributed to the Shankilla tribes, a hunter-gathered group that lives in eastern Sudan and western Ethiopia. Lovely examples. I love all the african blades and their creativity. Very difficult to establish the age. Thanks to share

VANDOO · 17th February 2012, 05:37 AM

AFRICA IS NOT MY STRONG AREA BUT I CAN IDENTIFY A FEW AS NO ONE MORE KNOWLEGABLE HAS IDENTIFIED THEM ALL YET.
AF9 AND AF14 ARE NAGALA SWORDS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS EXECUTIONERS SWORDS.
AF6 AND AF10 ARE POTO SWORDS AF6 STILL HAS THE CAT SKIN FETISH BALL ON THE POMMEL, LOOKS ORIGINAL
AF7 TRADITIONAL MASAI SEMI

I INCLUDE A PICTURE OF A NAGALA EXECUTION. NOTE THE HEAD IS IN A BASKET ATTACHED TO A SMALL TREE. WHEN THE HEAD IS CUT OFF THE TREE SPRINGS UP AND THROWS THE HEAD THRU THE AIR. UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T KNOW THE REASONS BEHIND THIS PERHAPS TO GET RID OF VENGFUL SPIRITS?? ALSO NOTE THEY HAVE THE FULL BAND AND DANCE TROOP FOR THE PERFORMANCE SO PERHAPS THEY JUST DID IT THIS WAY FOR FUN.??

Mauro · 17th February 2012, 11:58 PM

These are the attribution resulting from the last book of Mark Felix and Jan Elsen Fatal Beauty.Traditional weapons from central Africa- Taipei exibition. They are among the greatest experts for african weapons.
AF6 - Ngombè-Poto; AF7 – Masai post ca.1950; AF8 – Kete or Bena Lulua (different attribution in different books but your is a nice examples with a nice handle): AF9 – AF10 Ngombè - (may be also Ngala. they are non so different); AF11 – Gbaya; AF12 – Sudan Shankilla (?): I have two similar ones in my collection; AF13 – AF14 - Ngombè; AF16 – Shankilla; AF17- Ngombè.

If you get tired of the Shankilla let me know. Nice the story of how you collected these knives. thanks

whistlinbill · 20th February 2012, 01:21 AM

Gentlemen, thank you! I very much appreciate the time and effort you are
putting into helping me--can I buy you a drink at Baltimore?
Bill

whistlinbill · 20th February 2012, 01:23 AM

Gentlemen, thank you so much for all the scholarship and effort you have put into helping me! Can I buy you a drink at Baltimore?
Bill

ariel · 20th February 2012, 03:19 AM

On the very first pic: are those true axes or recades?

Mauro · 20th February 2012, 08:08 AM

Axes are not my speciality. In my opinion they are cerimonial axes from different parts of Africa. If I remember well AF3 is from Songye people, a nice example. The knife AF2 is from Algeria or Tunisia, from the end of XIX century or the beginning of XX century.
Italy is quite far from Baltimore but in case I shall ever travel overthere I shall be glad to have a drink together.

17th February 2012, 05:37 AM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	AFRICA IS NOT MY STRONG AREA BUT I CAN IDENTIFY A FEW AS NO ONE MORE KNOWLEGABLE HAS IDENTIFIED THEM ALL YET. AF9 AND AF14 ARE NAGALA SWORDS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS EXECUTIONERS SWORDS. AF6 AND AF10 ARE POTO SWORDS AF6 STILL HAS THE CAT SKIN FETISH BALL ON THE POMMEL, LOOKS ORIGINAL AF7 TRADITIONAL MASAI SEMI I INCLUDE A PICTURE OF A NAGALA EXECUTION. NOTE THE HEAD IS IN A BASKET ATTACHED TO A SMALL TREE. WHEN THE HEAD IS CUT OFF THE TREE SPRINGS UP AND THROWS THE HEAD THRU THE AIR. UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T KNOW THE REASONS BEHIND THIS PERHAPS TO GET RID OF VENGFUL SPIRITS?? ALSO NOTE THEY HAVE THE FULL BAND AND DANCE TROOP FOR THE PERFORMANCE SO PERHAPS THEY JUST DID IT THIS WAY FOR FUN.?? Attached Images

17th February 2012, 11:58 PM	#3
Mauro Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 83	These are the attribution resulting from the last book of Mark Felix and Jan Elsen Fatal Beauty.Traditional weapons from central Africa- Taipei exibition. They are among the greatest experts for african weapons. AF6 - Ngombè-Poto; AF7 – Masai post ca.1950; AF8 – Kete or Bena Lulua (different attribution in different books but your is a nice examples with a nice handle): AF9 – AF10 Ngombè - (may be also Ngala. they are non so different); AF11 – Gbaya; AF12 – Sudan Shankilla (?): I have two similar ones in my collection; AF13 – AF14 - Ngombè; AF16 – Shankilla; AF17- Ngombè. If you get tired of the Shankilla let me know. Nice the story of how you collected these knives. thanks

20th February 2012, 01:21 AM	#4
whistlinbill Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 24	Gentlemen, thank you! I very much appreciate the time and effort you are putting into helping me--can I buy you a drink at Baltimore? Bill

20th February 2012, 01:23 AM	#5
whistlinbill Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 24	Gentlemen, thank you so much for all the scholarship and effort you have put into helping me! Can I buy you a drink at Baltimore? Bill

20th February 2012, 03:19 AM	#6
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	On the very first pic: are those true axes or recades?

20th February 2012, 08:08 AM	#7
Mauro Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 83	Axes are not my speciality. In my opinion they are cerimonial axes from different parts of Africa. If I remember well AF3 is from Songye people, a nice example. The knife AF2 is from Algeria or Tunisia, from the end of XIX century or the beginning of XX century. Italy is quite far from Baltimore but in case I shall ever travel overthere I shall be glad to have a drink together.