ZULU REFRENCE AND QUESTIONS

thinreadline · 1st January 2011, 08:14 PM

As already stated , that certainly is not a Zulu spear .. I am not wholly convinced that it is a knobkerry either .. the head seems very small to those I have seen and own ... though I have seen some Bantu staffs with small rounded heads like that. It may even be a valid piece in its own right with the knobbed end acting as a counter balance... I wonder if any of the spear experts on this forum can identify it ?

Nathaniel · 2nd January 2011, 07:44 AM

Here are some pics I took last year at Baltimore of a display:

Lew · 3rd January 2011, 03:17 PM

Barry the spear in question is a composite the head is Danakil the shaft is a knobkerrie.

katana · 3rd January 2011, 05:51 PM

Totally agree with Lew, a composite. The Danekil spearhead socket would normally be 'flush' (or almost )with the shaft , this one is not and looks out of place. Due to the British involvement in Somalia and South Africa, perhaps the items ended up in a 'British' collection ....later married together either by innocent ignorance or monetary deception.

The idea of the knob being a counter balance is quite plausable though. In Spring's 'African arms and armour' page 38 is a picture of a Lancer of the Sultan of Bagrima's cavalry. The two headed lance is counter weighted with a 'knob' (material unknown) I do not have a scanner so can't post the picture.

Happy New Year to you all

David

VANDOO · 12th December 2011, 01:22 AM

THIS RECENTLY CLOSED ON EBAY . I LIKED IT AND BID BUT THERE WERE OTHERS WHO LIKED IT AS WELL WITH MUCHO DINERO.
IT IS DESCRIBED AS A ZULU PRESTIEGE BATON, ALSO USED FOR DANCING. 28 INCHES LONG. I HAD NOT SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT INCLUDE IT HERE IN THE ZULU SECTION. ITS SAID TO BE FROM 1899.

Lew · 12th December 2011, 01:48 AM

Barry

I was one of the bidders and yes it went for a grand or more

. It's probably northern Ngoni and highly stylized.

Tim Simmons · 12th December 2011, 07:16 AM

Yes a beautiful club. I had an eye on it but that was all I could do.

1st January 2011, 08:14 PM	#1
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	kerry spear As already stated , that certainly is not a Zulu spear .. I am not wholly convinced that it is a knobkerry either .. the head seems very small to those I have seen and own ... though I have seen some Bantu staffs with small rounded heads like that. It may even be a valid piece in its own right with the knobbed end acting as a counter balance... I wonder if any of the spear experts on this forum can identify it ?

12th December 2011, 01:22 AM	#5
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THIS RECENTLY CLOSED ON EBAY . I LIKED IT AND BID BUT THERE WERE OTHERS WHO LIKED IT AS WELL WITH MUCHO DINERO. IT IS DESCRIBED AS A ZULU PRESTIEGE BATON, ALSO USED FOR DANCING. 28 INCHES LONG. I HAD NOT SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT INCLUDE IT HERE IN THE ZULU SECTION. ITS SAID TO BE FROM 1899. Attached Images

2nd January 2011, 07:44 AM	#2
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Here are some pics I took last year at Baltimore of a display:

3rd January 2011, 03:17 PM	#3
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Barry the spear in question is a composite the head is Danakil the shaft is a knobkerrie.

3rd January 2011, 05:51 PM	#4
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Totally agree with Lew, a composite. The Danekil spearhead socket would normally be 'flush' (or almost )with the shaft , this one is not and looks out of place. Due to the British involvement in Somalia and South Africa, perhaps the items ended up in a 'British' collection ....later married together either by innocent ignorance or monetary deception. The idea of the knob being a counter balance is quite plausable though. In Spring's 'African arms and armour' page 38 is a picture of a Lancer of the Sultan of Bagrima's cavalry. The two headed lance is counter weighted with a 'knob' (material unknown) I do not have a scanner so can't post the picture. Happy New Year to you all David

12th December 2011, 01:48 AM	#6
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Barry I was one of the bidders and yes it went for a grand or more . It's probably northern Ngoni and highly stylized.

12th December 2011, 07:16 AM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,842	Yes a beautiful club. I had an eye on it but that was all I could do.