whatisit

LJ · 1st May 2014, 12:40 PM

The Madagascan spear heads were not always broad. This photo of a Sakalava man from the book 'Living Races of Mankind' (volume 2, p. 482) shows him holding spears where the heads are slightly wider than the man's fingers.

I think a key difference - which would involve comparing spears with good provenances from Madagascar and West Africa - could be the form of the butt, and especially the shape when viewed in profile. One other feature, which seems to be common on the Madagascan spears in the B.M., is that the seams of the sockets 'gape': which is the case in this spear. However, I haven't seen enough West African spears to know whether the socket seams commonly overlap / meet / gape.

If more photos would help, I will have access to the collection tomorrow.

Iain · 1st May 2014, 04:09 PM

Great ID!

Not the first time I've confused these.

Tim Simmons · 1st May 2014, 05:34 PM

Also rather like these which I no longer have.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=sahel+spears

Jim McDougall · 1st May 2014, 05:41 PM

Excellent interaction and exchange on this thread!!!! Very informative and great to see participants countering entries helpfully and courteously.
Now we have this spear identified correctly and with interesting potential for misidentification revealed accordingly to help future researchers and collectors
Nicely done gentlemen! Thank you!

Iain · 2nd May 2014, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

Also rather like these which I no longer have.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=sahel+spears

Lovely examples Tim, I think the one is possibly Dogon. I have seen images of Dogon dancers carrying spears with similar brass "side plates" on the shaft.

1st May 2014, 12:40 PM	#1
LJ Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 93	The Madagascan spear heads were not always broad. This photo of a Sakalava man from the book 'Living Races of Mankind' (volume 2, p. 482) shows him holding spears where the heads are slightly wider than the man's fingers. I think a key difference - which would involve comparing spears with good provenances from Madagascar and West Africa - could be the form of the butt, and especially the shape when viewed in profile. One other feature, which seems to be common on the Madagascan spears in the B.M., is that the seams of the sockets 'gape': which is the case in this spear. However, I haven't seen enough West African spears to know whether the socket seams commonly overlap / meet / gape. If more photos would help, I will have access to the collection tomorrow. Attached Images

1st May 2014, 04:09 PM	#2
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,719	Great ID! Not the first time I've confused these.

1st May 2014, 05:34 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,875	Also rather like these which I no longer have. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=sahel+spears

1st May 2014, 05:41 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,459	Excellent interaction and exchange on this thread!!!! Very informative and great to see participants countering entries helpfully and courteously. Now we have this spear identified correctly and with interesting potential for misidentification revealed accordingly to help future researchers and collectors Nicely done gentlemen! Thank you!