5th class chief stick

Tim Simmons · 8th August 2009, 05:04 PM

I do not collect European work, too much like a busmans holiday, but I have made an exception in this case. This fits with my intested in the history and colonial military action in West Africa. Not cheap but I just had to have it. Chiefs that come your side have been given things like this since the one group of people met another in distant history. It will have been made after 1901 when the Southern and Northern Nigerian protectorates were established out of the Royal Niger Company, I would guess it was made before ww1. The top is brass painted gold with engraving just under the crown "Northern Nigeria" then on the bottom egde of the top "5th Class Chief" I wonder what higher ranking chiefs got ? When I compere this with native work I know what I would rather have but it must have been very impressive at the time.

Tim Simmons · 8th August 2009, 05:26 PM

Higher ranking chiefs probably got pretty much the same just bigger? had to muck about with the picters to fit. Look at the hand on the stick I believe you can make out a crown? This picture is from a book printed in 1918. After ww1 things were very different with the rise of an educated political class. The British powers wanted to hand over to something like the traditional aristcratic system but the war got in the way.

Thats life.

trenchwarfare · 8th August 2009, 06:17 PM

Now we know the origin of fuzzy slippers.

Tim Simmons · 9th August 2009, 04:49 PM

Sometimes things just roll on. Got this one at the car boot sale today for the price of a BigMac. I feel it is East African. I had to make three dots. I used Indian ivory, the original dots do not appear to be elephant ivory but they also do not appear to be bone as there is some sort of grain in the material when viewed with a x10 loop. The top is a white metal, I think not zinc. I have many African armlets made of the same metal.

kahnjar1 · 10th August 2009, 06:03 AM

Becoming a real "stickman" arn't we !!

Nice pieces Tim. Will add them to my list for you.
Regards Stu

Tim Simmons · 17th August 2009, 05:10 PM

This is how it should look. You can see hand chased fur on the heraldic beasts now but not in these pics.

Tim Simmons · 17th August 2009, 07:55 PM

Unlike the chappie with fluffy feet. This big knob has a little man that does for him.

8th August 2009, 05:04 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,773	5th class chief stick I do not collect European work, too much like a busmans holiday, but I have made an exception in this case. This fits with my intested in the history and colonial military action in West Africa. Not cheap but I just had to have it. Chiefs that come your side have been given things like this since the one group of people met another in distant history. It will have been made after 1901 when the Southern and Northern Nigerian protectorates were established out of the Royal Niger Company, I would guess it was made before ww1. The top is brass painted gold with engraving just under the crown "Northern Nigeria" then on the bottom egde of the top "5th Class Chief" I wonder what higher ranking chiefs got ? When I compere this with native work I know what I would rather have but it must have been very impressive at the time. Attached Images Last edited by Tim Simmons; 8th August 2009 at 08:06 PM. Reason: spelling, but do not moan at those who cannot draw.

8th August 2009, 05:26 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,773	Higher ranking chiefs probably got pretty much the same just bigger? had to muck about with the picters to fit. Look at the hand on the stick I believe you can make out a crown? This picture is from a book printed in 1918. After ww1 things were very different with the rise of an educated political class. The British powers wanted to hand over to something like the traditional aristcratic system but the war got in the way. Thats life. Attached Images Last edited by Tim Simmons; 9th August 2009 at 09:47 AM.

9th August 2009, 04:49 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,773	The stick god smiles for me. Sometimes things just roll on. Got this one at the car boot sale today for the price of a BigMac. I feel it is East African. I had to make three dots. I used Indian ivory, the original dots do not appear to be elephant ivory but they also do not appear to be bone as there is some sort of grain in the material when viewed with a x10 loop. The top is a white metal, I think not zinc. I have many African armlets made of the same metal. Attached Images

17th August 2009, 05:10 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,773	This is how it should look. You can see hand chased fur on the heraldic beasts now but not in these pics. Attached Images

17th August 2009, 07:55 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,773	Seriously 1st Class Unlike the chappie with fluffy feet. This big knob has a little man that does for him. Attached Images

8th August 2009, 06:17 PM	#3
trenchwarfare Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 385	Now we know the origin of fuzzy slippers.

10th August 2009, 06:03 AM	#5
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,731	Becoming a real "stickman" arn't we !! Nice pieces Tim. Will add them to my list for you. Regards Stu