Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Weapons
FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 2nd January 2007, 10:18 PM   #1
Bill M
Member
 
Bill M's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: USA Georgia
Posts: 1,599
Default Spear? Indian? Sangu?

From the estate of a former employee of the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City in the 1920s. It was commonplace to use original artifacts during plays; as this piece was used.

Spear is 75.5 inches long and about 1.5 inches at the ball near the butt. The head is about 26 inches long and is four sided. The shaft above the handle, the handle itself and below the handle is six sided. Then it alternates with round and six-sided to the ball at the butt. It is solid steel.

I suspect it is a version of a Sang or Sangu from central or south India. Possibly Rajput horse/camel spear.

Any information anyone can offer is requested.
Attached Images
         
Bill M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2nd January 2007, 11:59 PM   #2
Runjeet Singh
Member
 
Runjeet Singh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Warwickshire, England
Posts: 150
Default

What an interesting piece!...I would agree with Bill...Central or South Indian, and yes call it a sang if you like. Isn't the decoration strange though, similar to decoration seen on good Algerian Flyssa Swords.

Here is a very different South Indian Sang from the Armoury of Mysore. Note the similarities in the butt piece.

Somebody onec claimed that my example is from Ceylon, it is obviously not (mysore inscription). However, does anybody have any knowledge of Sangs from Ceylon?

Regards,
Runjeet.

Runjeet Singh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 3rd January 2007, 12:39 AM   #3
Robert
EAAF Staff
 
Robert's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Centerville, Kansas
Posts: 2,196
Default

I know nothing of the weapons of India but this is absolutely beautiful! How do you keep finding these wonderful items? One thing though, this looks more like a javelin than any spear that I've seen. What is the weight?
Robert is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 3rd January 2007, 01:00 AM   #4
Battara
EAAF Staff
 
Battara's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,217
Default

Bill, looks like it is Indian, or Indo-Persian-Afghani. Very nice.
Battara is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 3rd January 2007, 02:12 AM   #5
CharlesS
Member
 
CharlesS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Greenville, NC
Posts: 1,857
Default

Beautiful example. I used to have one and sold it. I am betting this one is heavy, nicely balanced, and that its point and velocity would make short work of most shields and armour.
CharlesS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 3rd January 2007, 09:08 AM   #6
Tim Simmons
Member
 
Tim Simmons's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,806
Default

What a glorious thing. I love the decoration. Compere with this one. I think the African look becomes more clear.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=lance
Tim Simmons is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14th November 2008, 06:49 PM   #7
Tim Simmons
Member
 
Tim Simmons's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,806
Default AFRICA!!!!!

I will bet my last £ that this is also African. The brass and copper inlay along with the engraving is African. West African sahara type of work. I must say that to my mind this is a superb and not common item. Beautiful.
Tim Simmons is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 02:06 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.