A small African axe for coments

fernando · 21st September 2008, 09:00 PM

Frankly, i wasn't going to buy this, buy i counter-offered a (bargain?) price and the seller immediately let it go.
Can the Forumites tell where this is from ?
I guess it is a cerimonial item and not an efective weapon (tool), judging by the blade ends; but what do i know?
The previous owner had covered both blade and handle with varnish, which i removed with celulose solvent. However there is a kind of a white round paint in one of the blade sides, that resisted (mussle) removal; could this be an intentional mark ? well, i don't think so, but wonder why it doesn't come off with such a strong solvent
Thanks a lot for your coments
Fernando

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Freddy · 21st September 2008, 09:39 PM

Nice axe, Fernando.

I think it's Tshokwe (or Tschokwe, Chokwe) from the border region of Congo and Angola.

The white mark could well be a ceremonial addition. Sometimes one encounters Congolese weapons with white and red colouring.

The fact that this piece was lacquered doesn't bother me. A gallery owner from Brussels once told me that this is often found on older pieces coming from colonial collections. They did it to protect their pieces (also statues, etc...)

Lew · 21st September 2008, 11:02 PM

Fernando you did good that's a nice old axe I have one with the same dots on it.

Lew

fernando · 22nd September 2008, 01:03 AM

Thanks as lot for your coment and for the info, Freddy,
I also do varnish my piece blades, some times, to preserve them from rust.
But this one was much too shining. I have now oiled the blade and liquid wax the handle; it looks more discrete.

Thank you for the kind words, Lew.
So good you showed your nice example with the dots, which were a riddle to me.

By old, you mean 19th century ... or not that old

?

Fernando

Lew · 22nd September 2008, 01:53 AM

Fernando

1930s I don't think 19th century the patina on the wood doesn't look that deep/old. 19th and early 20th century African axes,clubs and spears have a deep lusturous patina to the wood similar to fine old furniture. Here is another picture of another axe late 19th century that exhibits the patina I was talking about.

Lew

fernando · 22nd September 2008, 04:11 PM

Much obliged Lew, for your coments and for sharing another superb example.
In any case, if ever my piece had some patina, it would be gone by the time i washed it with the solvent to take off that glossy varnish or, better saying, has even 'dismissed' when they applied such varnish.
I will file it as dated 1900's ... just to be nice to my self

Fernando

21st September 2008, 09:00 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	A small African axe for coments Frankly, i wasn't going to buy this, buy i counter-offered a (bargain?) price and the seller immediately let it go. Can the Forumites tell where this is from ? I guess it is a cerimonial item and not an efective weapon (tool), judging by the blade ends; but what do i know? The previous owner had covered both blade and handle with varnish, which i removed with celulose solvent. However there is a kind of a white round paint in one of the blade sides, that resisted (mussle) removal; could this be an intentional mark ? well, i don't think so, but wonder why it doesn't come off with such a strong solvent Thanks a lot for your coments Fernando . Attached Images

21st September 2008, 11:02 PM	#3
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Fernando you did good that's a nice old axe I have one with the same dots on it. Lew Attached Images

22nd September 2008, 01:53 AM	#5
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Fernando 1930s I don't think 19th century the patina on the wood doesn't look that deep/old. 19th and early 20th century African axes,clubs and spears have a deep lusturous patina to the wood similar to fine old furniture. Here is another picture of another axe late 19th century that exhibits the patina I was talking about. Lew Attached Images Last edited by LOUIEBLADES; 22nd September 2008 at 02:06 AM.

21st September 2008, 09:39 PM	#2
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Nice axe, Fernando. I think it's Tshokwe (or Tschokwe, Chokwe) from the border region of Congo and Angola. The white mark could well be a ceremonial addition. Sometimes one encounters Congolese weapons with white and red colouring. The fact that this piece was lacquered doesn't bother me. A gallery owner from Brussels once told me that this is often found on older pieces coming from colonial collections. They did it to protect their pieces (also statues, etc...)

22nd September 2008, 01:03 AM	#4
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Thanks as lot for your coment and for the info, Freddy, I also do varnish my piece blades, some times, to preserve them from rust. But this one was much too shining. I have now oiled the blade and liquid wax the handle; it looks more discrete. Thank you for the kind words, Lew. So good you showed your nice example with the dots, which were a riddle to me. By old, you mean 19th century ... or not that old ? Fernando

22nd September 2008, 04:11 PM	#6
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Much obliged Lew, for your coments and for sharing another superb example. In any case, if ever my piece had some patina, it would be gone by the time i washed it with the solvent to take off that glossy varnish or, better saying, has even 'dismissed' when they applied such varnish. I will file it as dated 1900's ... just to be nice to my self Fernando