6 Very Nice African Spears .....comments ? Origins ?

katana · 3rd January 2008, 11:03 PM

Hi,
finally, Santa got me something I really wanted (socks are such a bore

)

6 Spears , 3 seem very similar in construction ( socket arrangement and the shaft) although there are variation in spear head design.

2 of the spears have sockets with a 'triangular addition' ...a feature I have not seen before. One has very short barbs and the other has nice decoration on a rectangular (in cross section) shaft before the spearhead.

The last one has a lovely, well crafted socket with a decorated collar ...the blade seems to have laminations

.....

The wooden shaft is a totally different species to the others which terminates with a socketted spade end.

I am extremely happy with them

When I received them they were quite rusty and I have tried not to overclean. I believe that these are quite old, the wood has nice patination and I believe these were stored in a cool, dry environment for some time...so age cracking and warping has not occured. But, some shrinkage of the wood has.

Please if you have any ideas as to origins, or any comments at all, I would be most gratefull, thank you

Kind Regards David

Norman McCormick · 4th January 2008, 08:37 PM

Hi,
I have no idea as to who ,why or where but I am sure they will make a terrific display. Very nice indeed.
Regards,
Norman.

Freddy · 4th January 2008, 09:30 PM

I think these spears originate from the Northeastern part of Congo, the Ubangi-area. As Tim said in another post, they are probably Azande or perhaps even Mangbetu. These are neighbouring tribes.

katana · 5th January 2008, 08:45 PM

Hi Norman
thanks for the comments......as to a nice display of spears ...I have a problem convincing 'my other half' that a 'picket fence of spears' would look great in our living room.

.....but I'm working on it

Hi Freddy
nice to hear from you, thank you for the probable origins of these spears you have been very helpful

I will try and post a better picture of the spear head (with the possible forged laminations) as I have never seen this on an African spear before.

Regards David

Gavin Nugent · 5th January 2008, 10:41 PM

Hi David, not that I can be of much help on matters of spears, I do however wish to share this ebay link to a painting I was intending to bid on until it became a little out of reach so soon after Christmas.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....MEWA:IT&ih=019

With regards to she who must be obeyed David, I think the picket fence of spears is a great idea, keep onto it I am sure she will soften as time goes by.

Enjoy.

Gav

katana · 6th January 2008, 02:52 PM

Hi Gav,
very interesting picture, can't help thinking the spears, and the swords above them, look distinctly African .....Congolese possibly. The clubs are not 'common' types (in Africa), the seller suggests that these are Australasian /pacific, but being art there may be a degree of 'artistic licence'

An ethnical weapons collector, whom appears to be in period dress of the 17th Century...in a 19thC painting ...... could this be the portrait of the 'father' of our 'interest'......

Regards David

.

katana · 10th January 2008, 08:25 PM

Here is a few pictures of the forged laminated ?.... folded ? spearhead.

Difficult to photograph .... Has anyone seen this type of forged patterning on African Spears or blades ?

Regards David

3rd January 2008, 11:03 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	6 Very Nice African Spears .....comments ? Origins ? Hi, finally, Santa got me something I really wanted (socks are such a bore ) 6 Spears , 3 seem very similar in construction ( socket arrangement and the shaft) although there are variation in spear head design. 2 of the spears have sockets with a 'triangular addition' ...a feature I have not seen before. One has very short barbs and the other has nice decoration on a rectangular (in cross section) shaft before the spearhead. The last one has a lovely, well crafted socket with a decorated collar ...the blade seems to have laminations ..... The wooden shaft is a totally different species to the others which terminates with a socketted spade end. I am extremely happy with them When I received them they were quite rusty and I have tried not to overclean. I believe that these are quite old, the wood has nice patination and I believe these were stored in a cool, dry environment for some time...so age cracking and warping has not occured. But, some shrinkage of the wood has. Please if you have any ideas as to origins, or any comments at all, I would be most gratefull, thank you Kind Regards David Attached Images

4th January 2008, 09:30 PM	#3
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Nice set of spears I think these spears originate from the Northeastern part of Congo, the Ubangi-area. As Tim said in another post, they are probably Azande or perhaps even Mangbetu. These are neighbouring tribes.

5th January 2008, 10:41 PM	#5
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Of Spears and such Hi David, not that I can be of much help on matters of spears, I do however wish to share this ebay link to a painting I was intending to bid on until it became a little out of reach so soon after Christmas. http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....MEWA:IT&ih=019 With regards to she who must be obeyed David, I think the picket fence of spears is a great idea, keep onto it I am sure she will soften as time goes by. Enjoy. Gav

6th January 2008, 02:52 PM	#6
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Hi Gav, very interesting picture, can't help thinking the spears, and the swords above them, look distinctly African .....Congolese possibly. The clubs are not 'common' types (in Africa), the seller suggests that these are Australasian /pacific, but being art there may be a degree of 'artistic licence' An ethnical weapons collector, whom appears to be in period dress of the 17th Century...in a 19thC painting ...... could this be the portrait of the 'father' of our 'interest'...... Regards David . Attached Images Last edited by katana; 6th January 2008 at 03:06 PM.

10th January 2008, 08:25 PM	#7
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Here is a few pictures of the forged laminated ?.... folded ? spearhead. Difficult to photograph .... Has anyone seen this type of forged patterning on African Spears or blades ? Regards David Attached Images

4th January 2008, 08:37 PM	#2
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,597	Hi, I have no idea as to who ,why or where but I am sure they will make a terrific display. Very nice indeed. Regards, Norman.

5th January 2008, 08:45 PM	#4
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Hi Norman thanks for the comments......as to a nice display of spears ...I have a problem convincing 'my other half' that a 'picket fence of spears' would look great in our living room. .....but I'm working on it Hi Freddy nice to hear from you, thank you for the probable origins of these spears you have been very helpful I will try and post a better picture of the spear head (with the possible forged laminations) as I have never seen this on an African spear before. Regards David