African Fly Whisk

[Lew]

This is not a real weapon unless you are a fly. It's made of some type of rosewood or ebony? Carved chain link motif and ivory. My question is could this be South African since the chain link motif is common in Zulu art objects?

[colin henshaw]

The dark wood (African blackwood ?) and ivory, make me think more of East Africa - maybe Tanzania, Swahili coast, Makonde etc...

[Lew]

Hi Colin

That's what I first thought but the chain link motif throws me off. Is there any reference that East African tribes used the style of carving?

[Dom]

Originally Posted by Lew

This is not a real weapon unless you are a fly.

respectfully not agree with you Lew

It was with a fly whisk that Hussein Dey, the regent of Algiers during the Ottoman Empire,
struck the consul of France in 1827,
which served as a pretext to the French Minister of War to launch the invasion of Algeria in 1830.

for sure, not a weapon by itself
but by destination ... massive destruction weapon

not to let your fly whisk alone ... here mine,
from Egypt, it belonged to a Pasha who was the last Interior Minister during the monarchy of King Farouk
- handle in ivory, and Arabic horse tail

all the best

à +

Dom

[colin henshaw]

Hi Lew

There is an illustration of a Swahili carved wooden door from Tanzania, that incorporates the chain motif, in the book "Africa The Art of a Continent" by Tom Phillips 1995. I'm not sure if I can post an image, for copyright reasons ? but its on page 146, and is from the Staaltliche Museen zu Berlin. The text says the chain is said to symbolise security.

The chain as a carved symbol seems reasonably widespread in Africa, I have also seen it employed in Yoruba woodcarving, also in Congo material (I think).

Regards.

Originally Posted by Lew

Hi Colin

That's what I first thought but the chain link motif throws me off. Is there any reference that East African tribes used the style of carving?

[colin henshaw]

To continue with the fly whisk theme - here is one I have that you might like to see. Its from Abyssinia and made from horse hair, with an interesting old label.

Regards.