Mystery tribal item
 

This is an interesting item that I don't know exactly where it originated or its purpose. I think it is tribal given the decorations. The ferrule has a familiar shape to me. It is made of lead. The wood is dense and hard and the iron spade or chisel is probably European or American trade iron. Looking forward to thoughts on this unusual item.

The iron blade looks like its from a West African axe, removed and fitted with a different wooden handle to make a tool, perhaps a gouge in woodworking, or similar ?

Colin,

Thanks for the thoughts. I can see how the spade like tip reminds one of West African axes. I think one key difference which isn't really illustrated here is that the iron shaft is thick and four sided. I don't recall that feature on African axes. I think it was made as a tool and traded and mounted up to the local taste. Does the decoration on the handle look West African? I think the decoration on the blade can be found just about anywhere in the world.

Hi RSWORD

To try to address your points :-

a) Most African axe shafts are roundish in section, but I have seen some rectangular, I think.
b) The incised decoration to the iron shaft on your piece is typically African.
c) The decoration to the wooden handle is unusual, I havn't seen that fan-shaped design before on African work.
d) The lead inlay to the wood is sometimes used on West African work. Here are a couple of images from old forum threads.

Not conclusive I suppose, but thats my best guess.

A different possibility has occurred to me ... could it be connected with betel preparation, and the plant-like decoration to the handle meant to represent the areca palm ??

I think both African and Indonesian are possibilities based on some of the reasons you have stated. I also think it could be Native American with the plants representing tobacco leaves and perhaps below that some form of headdress. Man, if these things could talk.

I've found the solution on Eb**

This object comes from the island of Flores.
Here are two links to similar objects (the sale is over for several weeks).

SCARCE CEREMONIAL MACHETE STAFF FROM FLORES ISLAND

SCARCE CEREMONIAL MACHETE STAFF FROM FLORES ISLAND

I am not suggesting that this is one but has the same shape of a Magic broom from the collection of the Tropen Museum in the NL

No provenance, André? Looks like coming from Papua/New Guinea.

No details in the museum records?

Regards,
Kai

Hello Kai,

all I could find was this picture

it is object number H-2966 and it is described a a Winti priests magic broom.

there are pictures from another angle


Apparently there are lots ob objects identified as magic brooms used by winti priests .

This shape struck me as very similar to the object above.

Hello Séverin,

Good call, the metal inlay at the base of the hilt would fit nicely with Flores! (Other possibilities of similar work would be Enggano or even Nias.)

I completely missed this thread back then: Did you keep pics from those auctions? It would be great to have them uploaded here for posterity!

Regards,
Kai

no I found another similar broom object in this Dutch book

https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/lege004ba...01_01_0010.php

these objects weren't offered on any sale they are museum pieces. the OP here may have more on that particular object but it has been a long time from the publication here for the first time.

Sorry, we crossed posts!

I was referring to the earlier post #7 by Séverin...

Regards,
Kai

The ferrule reminds me to enggano sword ferrules.

Hello Detlef,

Yes, as mentioned above, there are a few places where such tin inlay work is found.

It seems just as common on Flores and Séverin apparently found 2 close matches also attributed to Flores. I'd be really interested to see pics of those finds! Unfortunately, I did not saw this thread back then...

Regards,
Kai