AN EXCELLENT SONGYE-NSAPO ADZE

Flavio · 15th May 2005, 11:37 PM

Dear friends, i'm happy to show you my last acquisition: an extraordinary Songye-Nsapo (or as Spring says TETELA) Adze. All comments are welcome

Justin · 16th May 2005, 01:48 PM

Very cool,congrats! Very interesting weapon,not often that we get to see adzes the long blade looks kind of awkward,is this more of a ceremonial/dance item or what?

Flavio · 16th May 2005, 03:29 PM

Hello Justin. I think that this kind of object is only ceremonial and a status symbol for peoples of elevated social class. Thank you

Conogre · 18th May 2005, 05:16 AM

I'd tend to think that this one is almost entirely a status/rank related piece, such as would be carried by a chief or someone of extremely high rank, particularly designated by a chief for use in royal processions or courts than in a ceremonial/dance context.
While adzes are traditionally thought of primarily as tools, I don't think that there's any disputing that more practical forms were pressed into use as weapons at least occasionally if not regularly, and seemed to reach a symbolic level of power in Africa found nowhere else in the world.
That is probably one of the most beautiful examples that I've ever seen...congratulations on an exceptional aquisition!
Mike

Freddy · 18th May 2005, 07:38 AM

Very nice find, Flavio. Truly a museum piece.

Flavio · 18th May 2005, 10:19 AM

Hello Mike, i'm agree with you completely. Thank you very much to you and Freddy

15th May 2005, 11:37 PM	#1
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	AN EXCELLENT SONGYE-NSAPO ADZE Dear friends, i'm happy to show you my last acquisition: an extraordinary Songye-Nsapo (or as Spring says TETELA) Adze. All comments are welcome Attached Images

18th May 2005, 07:38 AM	#5
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Nice Very nice find, Flavio. Truly a museum piece.

16th May 2005, 01:48 PM	#2
Justin Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 175	Very cool,congrats! Very interesting weapon,not often that we get to see adzes the long blade looks kind of awkward,is this more of a ceremonial/dance item or what?

16th May 2005, 03:29 PM	#3
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Hello Justin. I think that this kind of object is only ceremonial and a status symbol for peoples of elevated social class. Thank you

18th May 2005, 05:16 AM	#4
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	I'd tend to think that this one is almost entirely a status/rank related piece, such as would be carried by a chief or someone of extremely high rank, particularly designated by a chief for use in royal processions or courts than in a ceremonial/dance context. While adzes are traditionally thought of primarily as tools, I don't think that there's any disputing that more practical forms were pressed into use as weapons at least occasionally if not regularly, and seemed to reach a symbolic level of power in Africa found nowhere else in the world. That is probably one of the most beautiful examples that I've ever seen...congratulations on an exceptional aquisition! Mike

18th May 2005, 10:19 AM	#6
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Hello Mike, i'm agree with you completely. Thank you very much to you and Freddy