Zulu Walking Stick For Comment

katana · 29th March 2009, 11:30 PM

Hi Tim and Lew

Tim I followed the 'trench art' stick as well....I wondered whether the bullet had talismatic symbolism. The bullet ...a 'taker of life' held in an authoritarian hand .....the power of life and death ???

If you look at the hilt Lew post ...there appears to be a cylindrical object slightly protruding above and below the fist ....perhaps this has meaning? It is not unlikely that this 'cylindrical' motif could have been replaced with the bullet in the 'trench art' example

Possibly making the 'trench art' stick African ...as the machete appears to be.

Regards David

Tim Simmons · 31st March 2009, 06:48 PM

Lew, I know you have turned into a stick man like Freddy and I, possibly others, we must stick together.

I have just taken a punt on this staff which I believe is from the Solomon Islands but it could come from the more prestigous Islands in collector terms too. I cannot tell untill I get it. The other end according to the seller is made of a white material that is cracked. I am sure we are looking at marine ivory. It was half the price of the last link. I am looking for picture to back up my hunch.

Tim Simmons · 31st March 2009, 08:06 PM

I am thinking this sort of work only perhaps a little more mundane. From the Art of Tonga, Hawai university press. Or something like in this link.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...n+island+staff

Tim Simmons · 3rd April 2009, 05:22 PM

It is here and even better than I hoped for. My hunch was right Tongan, Fijian or Samoan. Tongan artists were established on all Islands. Sadly one little dot is missing and the whale ivory end is split is two places but I think I will just about be able to live with the damage. I could sacrifice the handle of a common Central Asian knife and replace the dot. Would that be wrong?

Shown with a Solomon staff.

31st March 2009, 06:48 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,934	Lew, I know you have turned into a stick man like Freddy and I, possibly others, we must stick together. I have just taken a punt on this staff which I believe is from the Solomon Islands but it could come from the more prestigous Islands in collector terms too. I cannot tell untill I get it. The other end according to the seller is made of a white material that is cracked. I am sure we are looking at marine ivory. It was half the price of the last link. I am looking for picture to back up my hunch. Attached Images

31st March 2009, 08:06 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,934	I am thinking this sort of work only perhaps a little more mundane. From the Art of Tonga, Hawai university press. Or something like in this link. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...n+island+staff Attached Images

3rd April 2009, 05:22 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,934	It is here and even better than I hoped for. My hunch was right Tongan, Fijian or Samoan. Tongan artists were established on all Islands. Sadly one little dot is missing and the whale ivory end is split is two places but I think I will just about be able to live with the damage. I could sacrifice the handle of a common Central Asian knife and replace the dot. Would that be wrong? Shown with a Solomon staff. Attached Images

29th March 2009, 11:30 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Tim and Lew Tim I followed the 'trench art' stick as well....I wondered whether the bullet had talismatic symbolism. The bullet ...a 'taker of life' held in an authoritarian hand .....the power of life and death ??? If you look at the hilt Lew post ...there appears to be a cylindrical object slightly protruding above and below the fist ....perhaps this has meaning? It is not unlikely that this 'cylindrical' motif could have been replaced with the bullet in the 'trench art' example Possibly making the 'trench art' stick African ...as the machete appears to be. Regards David