African double pointed Lance head

junker · 28th April 2011, 11:14 AM

Hi,

this is my latest aquirement.

A lance head with a double point.
I guess for fishing, if no member has another idea.

It should came from africa, as the seller told, but I dont know the region or tribe and is surely more than 70 years old.

The red Lines on it are a kind of file work which became a light rusty.
Should i clean it ? It will became a black and white/metal outfit.

TVV · 28th April 2011, 05:43 PM

It looks Ethiopian to me, but I am far from an expert.
Regards,
Teodor

junker · 29th April 2011, 09:00 PM

Thank you.
I forget length is 49 cm

regards
Dirk

katana · 29th April 2011, 11:29 PM

Hi Dirk,
your bident spear is likely Ethiopian / Sudanese and is not for fishing. Without any form of barb it would be fairly useless to spear and 'hold' a fish. My understanding is that African spears with 2 or more heads (that are barbless) tend to be ceremonial or 'badges of status' .... but, many recently made ones tend to be for the tourist market.

Kind Regards David

colin henshaw · 10th May 2011, 02:51 PM

Hi

Thought you might like to see this, which I acquired recently - I believe it was probably part of the accoutrements of a Mashona (Zimbabwe) diviner or "nganga".

Regards.

28th April 2011, 11:14 AM	#1
junker Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 140	African double pointed Lance head Hi, this is my latest aquirement. A lance head with a double point. I guess for fishing, if no member has another idea. It should came from africa, as the seller told, but I dont know the region or tribe and is surely more than 70 years old. The red Lines on it are a kind of file work which became a light rusty. Should i clean it ? It will became a black and white/metal outfit. Attached Images

10th May 2011, 02:51 PM	#5
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	Hi Thought you might like to see this, which I acquired recently - I believe it was probably part of the accoutrements of a Mashona (Zimbabwe) diviner or "nganga". Regards. Attached Images

28th April 2011, 05:43 PM	#2
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,624	It looks Ethiopian to me, but I am far from an expert. Regards, Teodor

29th April 2011, 09:00 PM	#3
junker Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 140	Thank you. I forget length is 49 cm regards Dirk

29th April 2011, 11:29 PM	#4
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Hi Dirk, your bident spear is likely Ethiopian / Sudanese and is not for fishing. Without any form of barb it would be fairly useless to spear and 'hold' a fish. My understanding is that African spears with 2 or more heads (that are barbless) tend to be ceremonial or 'badges of status' .... but, many recently made ones tend to be for the tourist market. Kind Regards David