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Originally Posted by Iain
Nice piece in my favorite style! Almost certainly Hausa manufacture based on the motifs. Date, I'd say conservatively anywhere from mid 1800s to turn of the century. Maybe optimistically a bit older, but there's no set in stone dating method for these.
I usually term these wide-bladed takouba and they seem to turn up most frequently among the Hausa, almost always with these fairly flat profiled blades. However I would imagine yours has good flex and overall decent quality steel. The motif on the blade is very intriguing, I've seen similar designs placed on hilts but not on the blade directly. As for meaning, I'm not sure of anything direct, but my current belief and theory is that a lot of these takouba decorations are rooted in Hausa architectural motifs.
For a similar piece of mine you can look here: http://takouba.org/takouba16/
Overall a lovely Hausa takouba and something I would give a good home and much pampering should you ever decide to part with it.  (i.e. I'm jealous  ) |
Thank you Iain. Very informative. Eric, my FB friend likes it too. I think he must know you as well. It's fast becoming a small world. There is so much to learn, and so little time.
This place is invaluable. I'm finding Facebook is good as well. People can build a photo cataloge of their collection and friends, other collectors, can comment and help one learn. Thanks for the referal to the Takouba Research Society. Your piece is just like mine, nice. Part of the guard on mine pealed up a little. Its is very soft metal like lead. What do you think, did they use lead? Guess I better get reading on the research site. Thanks again.
-Stephen*