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#1 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
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I found this the other day seems early 20th century to me?
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,430
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Yes, in my opinion early 20th century...
Regards |
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#3 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,776
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Nice stick Lew. I would agree with Colin early 20th cent. It seems to be a fairly common type. I have this one which is more of a dress stick being only 73cm long. A sign of its lateness to me is the opposite end to the ball, which has a slight bevelled edge and the end has been dressed flat by a file. I know files have been in use for centuries but all the early short sticks that I have, not having contact with the ground have been carved or worn/rubbed at the end. To many collectors this lateness may cause some disinterest but one has to realise how much parts of Southern Africa were like the wild west. Traditional warriors still engaging in conflicts untill 1906. Like in this link, the only survivors two Americans and an Australian.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shangani_Patrol It is fasinating how worldwide things like this, swords and knives seem to come in roughly the same set sizes. I suppose we are all humans. ![]() ![]() ![]() Last edited by Tim Simmons; 1st March 2009 at 09:14 PM. Reason: spelling. spelling |
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#4 |
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Location: What is still UK
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Hello Lew, I asume you will be looking here. I just ebayed this staff/stick which I believe is quite possibly Fon or Benin, certainly West African and high status. The the fist image is a potent symbol in West Africa. I hope to post better pics in the next few days. I could be very much deluded
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#5 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
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Nice stick Tim.
What I find strange is that the shaft seems to be bamboo never saw an African stick made from it but you never know. Lew |
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#6 |
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Location: What is still UK
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magnify this pic, some kind of grain? The seller says carved step down stick?
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#7 |
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Join Date: Jan 2008
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Hi Tim
Here is one of mine, from the Solomon Islands, for comparison. I believe the serpent motif is part of their iconography. Regards |
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#8 |
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Very very nice Colin. Some more stuff on Tongan artists.
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#9 |
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Lew I think you will look here. I have just taken another punt on this item. 34, 1/2 inches, tapering from 1, 1/4 inches to 7/8 of an inch. That would make the hand around 3 inches wide so it could well be used as a club. This was the only picture so it bit of a gamble. Apparently there is slight damage to the outside of the little finger. Which could indicate use as a weapon. I think it is clearly African. Like your machete it is a left hand, the other sticks in this thread are right hand.
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#10 |
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Poole England
Posts: 441
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Another African stick which is carved from one piece of horn. I am guessing that it is Oryx as it is quite straight.
It's a bit short for a walking stick at about 1 metre so it may have served another purpose. Any suggestions as to the origin ? Regards Royston |
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#11 |
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Looks like you could fend off any nasty person with that point. Are you sure it is horn? not that I doubt you just that things can be hard to discern through a PC. The horn is solid? I believe antelope horns are hollow? solid horn would be far more rare. I am not an expert but to my mind this is East African like Milawi, Mozambique or Tanzania. The carving to the back of the head and other aspects of the face can be seen in carving from these areas today. Frequently seen in charity shops, car boot sales and new items at so called "CRAFT" markets.
Your piece does not strike me as tourist or "art market" work, however I do feel it is modern in the sence I feel sure it is post 1918 possibly quite a bit latter. The carrying of sticks as a social marker as well as a possible defensive weapon was comman in parts of East Africa untill quite recently and no doubt still is today in the most rural areas. Interestingly my new neighbour who I was talking to this very afternoon is from Guinea. I showed him some of my sticks. He went on to say that in his region traditionally the eldest son of a family would be marked by carring a stick. There is a good we site on prestige sticks in East Africa. I will try and find it again and this time bookmark it. |
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#12 |
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Location: What is still UK
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That old Zulu magic, shame about the nose and the ear are a bit flaky too.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=390042158896 |
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#13 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
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Tim
I was looking at that one. A nice piece but again the price is rediculous ![]() Lew |
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#14 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
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The fist stick that was a gamble, well it is total rubbish, trouist, and badly damaged. The Fiji one is still nice
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