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24th July 2015, 03:20 AM
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#1 |
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Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 10,281
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A truly amazing hybrid Miguel, thank you for bringing it in here!
It has been a long time since we have discussed these Dahomean hwi it seems, and for those interested in further reading on them, Christopher Spring in "African Arms and Armour" has a good section about them. He uses plates and data from "Sabres Decores du Dahomey" Montserrat Palau Marti Objets et Mondes, VII:4, 1967 These fascinating ceremonial blades on these hwi reflect the tribal animist traditions and often facets of the West African Vodun religion. This does appear to be a French briquette sword as noted by Kubur, and these were around latter 18th century, well into the 19th. They were replaced my a gladius type sword M1831 but both seem concurrent in 1830s. The hilt on this one seems likely 2nd Empire c.1854+ While the French did not colonize Dahomey until 1872, I have researched hwi which were collected there c 1856 by French officers. Fascinating example reflecting the Dahoman traditions coupled with French colonial situations, and great historical possibilities, |
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24th July 2015, 08:39 AM
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#2 |
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Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Czech Republic
Posts: 843
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As Jim already said: Fascinating example.
Congratulations Martin |
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26th July 2015, 02:53 PM
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#3 | |
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 584
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Quote:
Thanks for your interest. Regards Miguel |
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26th July 2015, 02:50 PM
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#4 | |
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 584
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Quote:
I am really pleased that you like it. I have a copy of Christopher Stone`s book, in fact his article was what lead me to believing it was a Hwi, further research led me to thinking it was made from a French sabre but I have not yet been able to discover which dignitary carried it and what office, if any, did it represent, military or civil, still a lot of work to do. Thanks again for your comments. Regards Miguel |
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Hybrid Mode
