6 africans Dahomey? ritual swords

francantolin · 15th May 2020, 06:03 PM

Hello everybody,

I'd like to share with you these six ritual swords ,

I like the blades decorations mixed with the european guard shape influence,
they are not weapons but only ritual ceremonials

I read some were used as voodun altar or were made as a tribute of Dahomey kings ( If it's the correct origin )

We have two pieces with a man striked down by a lion
( once with a rifle gun )

two similar items but with a monkey instead the lion ( idem one with long gun )

One with a snake ? ( older I think )

One with a crocodile ? and a nice carved hilt ( older too ?...)

Don't really know if they are old pieces.

Maybe End of 19th century -first half of the 20th ?

What do you think ?

Does someone have informations about the symbolic of each animal ?

Kind regards

francantolin · 15th May 2020, 06:05 PM

The ''snake''

francantolin · 15th May 2020, 06:12 PM

The ''crocodile''

Rituals weapons, but the basis of the blade is thick and well made ,
the edge really thinner
not just a decorated sheet of metal

Jim McDougall · 15th May 2020, 07:45 PM

These are most definitely examples of 'hwi' ceremonial swords from Dahomey (now Benin) and carried during various rituals and ceremonies in the tribal situations there, as observed by Burton in his visits there in 1863 ("Book of the Sword" 1885). We have discussed these extensively here over many years, and I typically retrieve these entries by using key words like 'Dahomey' or 'Palau Marti' in the SEARCH function found in the top banner.

Palau Marti, "Sabres Decores du Dahomey" (1967) was a key reference to these in "African Arms & Armor" Christopher Spring.

As usual, arms references seldom, if ever, address the metaphysical or spiritual representations seen in the elements of the weapons. These kinds of details are typically found by further research in references concerning the Vodun religions of West Africa. In these ancestor worship is often a key element and the 'python' was in many cases regarded as a tribal ancestor, for lack of more accurate description.

Much of the animism and totemic value is part of the themes seen in these artistically created blades.
The European style hilts and sound character of these to me suggests 19th c during French presence.

Luc LEFEBVRE · 15th May 2020, 10:02 PM

If you want to learn more, try to get these 2 books from "Le petit musée de la récade" Cotonou. BENIN.

francantolin · 16th May 2020, 10:38 AM

Hello Jim, Hello Luc,

Thanks a lot for your comments !

The books seems really interesting,
I heard they made a really nice museum in Cotonou, Benin and collected back a lot of their treasures lost during colonial presence .

I saw the expo of the Dahomey kings in Paris at the Quai Branly museum
years ago, with Glélé, the lion king, The shark king ... really fascinating !

Now they send them back to Benin, normal I think...

Kind Regards

Tim Simmons · 16th May 2020, 04:10 PM

How fabulous to have all six of these. They will make a great display full of mystery and intrigue.

francantolin · 17th May 2020, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

How fabulous to have all six of these. They will make a great display full of mystery and intrigue.

Thank you !!

15th May 2020, 06:03 PM	#1
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 877	6 africans Dahomey? ritual swords Hello everybody, I'd like to share with you these six ritual swords , I like the blades decorations mixed with the european guard shape influence, they are not weapons but only ritual ceremonials I read some were used as voodun altar or were made as a tribute of Dahomey kings ( If it's the correct origin ) We have two pieces with a man striked down by a lion ( once with a rifle gun ) two similar items but with a monkey instead the lion ( idem one with long gun ) One with a snake ? ( older I think ) One with a crocodile ? and a nice carved hilt ( older too ?...) Don't really know if they are old pieces. Maybe End of 19th century -first half of the 20th ? What do you think ? Does someone have informations about the symbolic of each animal ? Kind regards Attached Images

15th May 2020, 06:05 PM	#2
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 877	The ''snake'' Attached Images

15th May 2020, 06:12 PM	#3
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 877	The ''crocodile'' Rituals weapons, but the basis of the blade is thick and well made , the edge really thinner not just a decorated sheet of metal Attached Images

15th May 2020, 10:02 PM	#5
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 472	If you want to learn more, try to get these 2 books from "Le petit musée de la récade" Cotonou. BENIN. Attached Images

16th May 2020, 10:38 AM	#6
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 877	Hello Jim, Hello Luc, Thanks a lot for your comments ! The books seems really interesting, I heard they made a really nice museum in Cotonou, Benin and collected back a lot of their treasures lost during colonial presence . I saw the expo of the Dahomey kings in Paris at the Quai Branly museum years ago, with Glélé, the lion king, The shark king ... really fascinating ! Now they send them back to Benin, normal I think... Kind Regards Attached Images

15th May 2020, 07:45 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,946	These are most definitely examples of 'hwi' ceremonial swords from Dahomey (now Benin) and carried during various rituals and ceremonies in the tribal situations there, as observed by Burton in his visits there in 1863 ("Book of the Sword" 1885). We have discussed these extensively here over many years, and I typically retrieve these entries by using key words like 'Dahomey' or 'Palau Marti' in the SEARCH function found in the top banner. Palau Marti, "Sabres Decores du Dahomey" (1967) was a key reference to these in "African Arms & Armor" Christopher Spring. As usual, arms references seldom, if ever, address the metaphysical or spiritual representations seen in the elements of the weapons. These kinds of details are typically found by further research in references concerning the Vodun religions of West Africa. In these ancestor worship is often a key element and the 'python' was in many cases regarded as a tribal ancestor, for lack of more accurate description. Much of the animism and totemic value is part of the themes seen in these artistically created blades. The European style hilts and sound character of these to me suggests 19th c during French presence.

16th May 2020, 04:10 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	How fabulous to have all six of these. They will make a great display full of mystery and intrigue.