Peruvian/Inca war club?

stekemest · 8th May 2015, 08:28 PM

Hi all,

Got this bronze club (diameter ~ 95 mm) which I believe to be an Inca porra or mace head. Can anyone confirm? Is there reason to believe it's not authentic? Hard to say from pictures, I know.

Thanks in advance!

Shakethetrees · 8th May 2015, 08:36 PM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think any Meso-American culture used bronze weapons.

I think the mace head is old world in origin.

stekemest · 8th May 2015, 08:53 PM

Thanks for your answer, but I think you are wrong. Some mesoamerican cultures used bronze for weapons and tools. There are some maceheads on display in the cusco museum, for example:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtop...f=57&p=1649011

As far as I have read, star-shaped maceheads are called "porra". Guaman Poma has depicted them in his chronicle in 1615:

fearn · 8th May 2015, 10:36 PM

The bronze isn't a problem, because the Andes had bronze since around the 10th century IIRC. I'd be more concerned about things like the relative lack of patina and the clean break on one of the spikes. I'd also be concerned about the provenance, although I'm not familiar with Bolivian and Peruvian antiquities laws.

F

VANDOO · 9th May 2015, 01:45 AM

I SEE THESE BRONZE AND COPPER MACE HEADS FOR SALE IN AUCTION HOUSES FROM TIME TO TIME. THEY ARE NOT COMMON BUT DO COME IN DIFFERENT SHAPES AND SIZES AND FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES. I DON'T KNOW IF REPLICAS HAVE BEEN MADE OR NOT. BUT SINCE YOU DON'T SEE LOTS OF THEM LIKE THE POPULAR LURISTAN AND CHINESE BRONZE ITEMS PERHAPS THE ODDS ARE BETTER OF GETTING A REAL ARTIFACT. THERE MAY BE A OLD POST WITH PICTURES OF SOME PERHAPS A SEARCH OF PRECOLUMBIAN, MACE OR BRONZE MIGHT TURN SOMETHING UP. GOOD LUCK

stekemest · 9th May 2015, 02:06 AM

Thank you!
I did find a thread with a few similar weapons, here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=743

Quote:

the clean break on one of the spikes

Why do you think the clean break could be a problem?

8th May 2015, 08:28 PM	#1
stekemest Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Posts: 182	Peruvian/Inca war club? Hi all, Got this bronze club (diameter ~ 95 mm) which I believe to be an Inca porra or mace head. Can anyone confirm? Is there reason to believe it's not authentic? Hard to say from pictures, I know. Thanks in advance! Attached Images

8th May 2015, 08:36 PM	#2
Shakethetrees Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Louisiana Posts: 363	Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think any Meso-American culture used bronze weapons. I think the mace head is old world in origin.

8th May 2015, 08:53 PM	#3
stekemest Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Posts: 182	Thanks for your answer, but I think you are wrong. Some mesoamerican cultures used bronze for weapons and tools. There are some maceheads on display in the cusco museum, for example: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtop...f=57&p=1649011 As far as I have read, star-shaped maceheads are called "porra". Guaman Poma has depicted them in his chronicle in 1615:

8th May 2015, 10:36 PM	#4
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	The bronze isn't a problem, because the Andes had bronze since around the 10th century IIRC. I'd be more concerned about things like the relative lack of patina and the clean break on one of the spikes. I'd also be concerned about the provenance, although I'm not familiar with Bolivian and Peruvian antiquities laws. F

9th May 2015, 01:45 AM	#5
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	I SEE THESE BRONZE AND COPPER MACE HEADS FOR SALE IN AUCTION HOUSES FROM TIME TO TIME. THEY ARE NOT COMMON BUT DO COME IN DIFFERENT SHAPES AND SIZES AND FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES. I DON'T KNOW IF REPLICAS HAVE BEEN MADE OR NOT. BUT SINCE YOU DON'T SEE LOTS OF THEM LIKE THE POPULAR LURISTAN AND CHINESE BRONZE ITEMS PERHAPS THE ODDS ARE BETTER OF GETTING A REAL ARTIFACT. THERE MAY BE A OLD POST WITH PICTURES OF SOME PERHAPS A SEARCH OF PRECOLUMBIAN, MACE OR BRONZE MIGHT TURN SOMETHING UP. GOOD LUCK