15th August 2016, 08:13 PM | #1 |
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Zulu dancing shield spear and knobkerrie
Hello everyone, thought I would post this for comment and interest. I have owned it for 20 years and obtained it from someone who had spent many years in South Africa and had been given them from friends he had made there. He also had a War Shield but could not be persuaded to part with it.
Regards Miguel |
18th August 2016, 08:02 PM | #2 | |
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Quote:
Shield:- 31 ins x 16 ins made from cow hide. Central carrying stick 44 ins long with animal fur at top end. Knobkerrie:- 35 ins lg with 0.875 ins dia shaft and 2.5 ins dia ball. I don't know the wood type. Spear:- 35 ins lg wit 9 ins x 1.25 ins wide rough forged blade the socket of which is covered with fur. Miguel |
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18th August 2016, 09:47 PM | #3 |
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Hi
My understanding of Zulu spears is that they never had sockets Just a tang embedded in the shaft and bound by leather cow tail sheath which is shrunk over the tang to bind all together If you show better pictures of the socket it would help identification Regards Ken |
19th August 2016, 07:10 PM | #4 | |
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Quote:
I don't know about the Assegi but you are certainly correct with regard to the Iklawa (stabbing spear ) introduced by Shaka. The picture of the spear is poor, I have to agree, but I don't take particularly good pictures due to having partially double vision which makes it difficult to focus so I do the best I can. These were taken some time ago when I was redearching my collection and are now in a storage box in the loft but if you can bear with me I will try to take clearer photos as I would like to know your opinion. Thank you for your interest. Regards Miguel |
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24th August 2016, 12:31 PM | #5 |
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Hi Miguel
Due to the rather crude workmanship, lack of wear etc., these are probably mid twentieth century or later, made either for indigenous dancing/display or selling to tourists. Old South African assegai did not have the hide binding stitched like that, it was slid over the join unbroken, when wet from the cow's tail |
24th August 2016, 07:33 PM | #6 | |
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Quote:
Thank you for your informative comments, you have confirmed my own thoughts. Not having the knowledge I was not completely sure, thanks again. Miguel |
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