African club on ebay

Lew · 13th July 2006, 04:46 AM

OK where is this one from? Seller claims it's Sudanese? My guess is that it's Mangbetu? Those dot patterns seem familar but I can't place them?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Old-African-club...QQcmdZViewItem

Lew

Tim Simmons · 13th July 2006, 06:18 PM

I am really not sure. I do not now if this has been rather vigorously cleaned of all patina.

katana · 13th July 2006, 06:28 PM

Hi Lew,
I bid a 'safe' amount on this club, like you I recognised the circular design...buy couln't place it. It was the patina...or ..lack of patina which I wasn't certain about. Perhaps Tim is right, ...perhaps someone has 'clean it up'

Lew · 13th July 2006, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katana

Hi Lew,
I bid a 'safe' amount on this club, like you I recognised the circular design...buy couln't place it. It was the patina...or ..lack of patina which I wasn't certain about. Perhaps Tim is right, ...perhaps someone has 'clean it up'

I'm not that sure it was cleaned up that much but I will see the condition once it arrives. The final price was not that high so it was worth it to me.

Lew

katana · 13th July 2006, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

The final price was not that high so it was worth it to me.

Lew

I agree Lew, with the extra postage to the UK ,included in the bid,we bid a similar amount

Bill M · 14th July 2006, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katana

Hi Lew, like you I recognised the circular design...buy couln't place it.

The circular designs look like they could have come from the Lega/Warega culture. This small ivory figure is about 6 inches tall.

Tim Simmons · 14th July 2006, 06:18 PM

Now I have spent a bit more time looking. I am not so sure about this being cleaned. I was a little concerned that brass knobs were missing. On checking weapons with missing brass knobs I think this club is a nice buy. As for the rings I have always thought they could be seen over much of central to south Africa. I think it could be Shona or there abouts maybe not as north as Mangbetu. Eye eye whats all this then.

Freddy · 15th July 2006, 06:55 PM

Hi Lew,

I don't think this club is Mangbetu. In fact, I don't think the Mangbetu used clubs. In 'Dodelijk mooi' (Deadly Beauty) the author gives following account of the Mangbetu's weaponry :

"The Mangbetu form the dominating tribe in the area. Their main weapons consist of a rectangular wooden shield, different types of spears and the Mangbetu sickle weapon (trumbash or mambele). They also frequently use bow and arrow and wear daggers."

(own translation from the dutch language)

The dotted design on your club is found from the Sudan, throughout Congo and into Tansania (perhaps as far as South Africa).

So your club probably originates from there....not much help, I'm afraid

13th July 2006, 04:46 AM	#1
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	African club on ebay OK where is this one from? Seller claims it's Sudanese? My guess is that it's Mangbetu? Those dot patterns seem familar but I can't place them? http://cgi.ebay.com/Old-African-club...QQcmdZViewItem Lew

14th July 2006, 06:18 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Now I have spent a bit more time looking. I am not so sure about this being cleaned. I was a little concerned that brass knobs were missing. On checking weapons with missing brass knobs I think this club is a nice buy. As for the rings I have always thought they could be seen over much of central to south Africa. I think it could be Shona or there abouts maybe not as north as Mangbetu. Eye eye whats all this then. Attached Images

13th July 2006, 06:18 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	I am really not sure. I do not now if this has been rather vigorously cleaned of all patina.

13th July 2006, 06:28 PM	#3
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Hi Lew, I bid a 'safe' amount on this club, like you I recognised the circular design...buy couln't place it. It was the patina...or ..lack of patina which I wasn't certain about. Perhaps Tim is right, ...perhaps someone has 'clean it up'

15th July 2006, 06:55 PM	#8
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Hi Lew, I don't think this club is Mangbetu. In fact, I don't think the Mangbetu used clubs. In 'Dodelijk mooi' (Deadly Beauty) the author gives following account of the Mangbetu's weaponry : "The Mangbetu form the dominating tribe in the area. Their main weapons consist of a rectangular wooden shield, different types of spears and the Mangbetu sickle weapon (trumbash or mambele). They also frequently use bow and arrow and wear daggers." (own translation from the dutch language) The dotted design on your club is found from the Sudan, throughout Congo and into Tansania (perhaps as far as South Africa). So your club probably originates from there....not much help, I'm afraid