Indian Spear

[thinreadline]

Bought this in the 1970s at Wellers in Birmingham as an Indian temple guards spear . It breaks down into 2 pieces so I assume it is purely ceremonial rather than a fighting weapon . I have noticed a number of these for sale recently at UK arms fairs Does anyone out there know what the correct name and function and geographic origin of these spears is ? Thanks in advance .

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Just jumping in with some art work It states ~

Quote"Plate forty-six from the second volume of James Forbes' "Oriental Memoirs". Forbes(1749-1819) made the original drawing of this 'spear-man in the Ragobah's[Raghunath Row] service' in the Mahratta Camp at Cambay where his friend Sir Charles Malet was the English Resident. 'Those who carry matchlocks, or other Indian arms, are generally dressed in a similar manner, sometimes in a jacket and shorter drawers, according to their own choice; no conformity being attempted as in the corps of native sepoys in the Company's service.' ''Unquote.

[thinreadline]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Just jumping in with some art work It states ~

Quote"Plate forty-six from the second volume of James Forbes' "Oriental Memoirs". Forbes(1749-1819) made the original drawing of this 'spear-man in the Ragobah's[Raghunath Row] service' in the Mahratta Camp at Cambay where his friend Sir Charles Malet was the English Resident. 'Those who carry matchlocks, or other Indian arms, are generally dressed in a similar manner, sometimes in a jacket and shorter drawers, according to their own choice; no conformity being attempted as in the corps of native sepoys in the Company's service.' ''Unquote.

thank you Ibrahiim

[Jens Nordlunde]

It is interesting, but what does this prove?

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

It doesn't prove anything. But it is, perhaps, a little more informative than your post. The quite hilarious ethnographic detail about drawers lengths is interesting but the picture is in its own right worth 1,000 words and on a subject quite difficult to obtain details upon out here on the edge of the universe. Bravo to the thread instigator who has placed a difficult subject for people to add to even if it is only a long pair of pants!

[Sunmit]

Just curious: how much are they selling for at the UK arms fair?

Originally Posted by thinreadline

Bought this in the 1970s at Wellers in Birmingham as an Indian temple guards spear . It breaks down into 2 pieces so I assume it is purely ceremonial rather than a fighting weapon . I have noticed a number of these for sale recently at UK arms fairs Does anyone out there know what the correct name and function and geographic origin of these spears is ? Thanks in advance .

[thinreadline]

Originally Posted by Sunmit

Just curious: how much are they selling for at the UK arms fair?

around £150

[shayde78]

Stumbled upon an auction example earlier today...could yours be a Liberian prestige spear?
I could post the link, but the auction is still active.