Massai/african wooden lance or oceanian ?

milandro · 29th August 2023, 08:17 AM

If one pursues the African road then it may be possible that this is a (or part of it) ceremonial scepter or staff

Compare to this from the Brooklyn Museum

drac2k · 29th August 2023, 04:29 PM

Could we get a better picture of the point? The patination looks different(lighter), and the carved lines don't look symmetrical, so I'm wondering if the tip broke off and it was reshaped ?

Marius66 · 30th August 2023, 01:52 PM

OK sure,
I will prepare it 👍

Marius66 · 31st August 2023, 04:34 PM

Here the tip

Marius66 · 31st August 2023, 04:39 PM

Red-brown patina under black paint -laquer ?
Especially the shaft.

Marius66 · 31st August 2023, 04:45 PM

Hard wood but not thick enough at the large part I think to be a real club / war paddle...
Ceremonial staff or something, but where from ???

wood seems exotic- islands or something...

Marius66 · 31st August 2023, 05:30 PM

Forum moderator please !!

Marius66 · 31st August 2023, 06:45 PM

Hello,
My pictures please !

Marius66 · 31st August 2023, 07:20 PM

Last one

Marius66 · 31st August 2023, 08:26 PM

Sorry, it was this one

Marius66 · 1st September 2023, 12:31 PM

''head'' of the spear/staff looks like a stylised bird head.
Something like a jabiru stork or a vulture

drac2k · 1st September 2023, 02:50 PM

Great pictures. To me it reinforces my opinion that it was some type of ceremonial spear, especially at the base of the carved blade that looks like a socket entering the shaft. The tip does look reshaped in my opinion, but it appears that it was done a long time ago.
Still a wonderful piece, whatever it is!

29th August 2023, 08:17 AM	#1
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 492	If one pursues the African road then it may be possible that this is a (or part of it) ceremonial scepter or staff Compare to this from the Brooklyn Museum Attached Images

29th August 2023, 04:29 PM	#2
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,258	Could we get a better picture of the point? The patination looks different(lighter), and the carved lines don't look symmetrical, so I'm wondering if the tip broke off and it was reshaped ? Last edited by drac2k; 29th August 2023 at 04:30 PM. Reason: spelling

31st August 2023, 04:34 PM	#4
Marius66 Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Posts: 131	Here the tip Attached Images

31st August 2023, 04:39 PM	#5
Marius66 Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Posts: 131	Red-brown patina under black paint -laquer ? Especially the shaft. Attached Images

31st August 2023, 04:45 PM	#6
Marius66 Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Posts: 131	Hard wood but not thick enough at the large part I think to be a real club / war paddle... Ceremonial staff or something, but where from ??? wood seems exotic- islands or something... Attached Images

30th August 2023, 01:52 PM	#3
Marius66 Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Posts: 131	OK sure, I will prepare it 👍

31st August 2023, 05:30 PM	#7
Marius66 Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Posts: 131	Forum moderator please !!

31st August 2023, 06:45 PM	#8
Marius66 Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Posts: 131	Hello, My pictures please !

31st August 2023, 07:20 PM	#9
Marius66 Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Posts: 131	Last one Attached Images

31st August 2023, 08:26 PM	#10
Marius66 Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Posts: 131	Sorry, it was this one Attached Images

1st September 2023, 12:31 PM	#11
Marius66 Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Posts: 131	''head'' of the spear/staff looks like a stylised bird head. Something like a jabiru stork or a vulture Attached Images

1st September 2023, 02:50 PM	#12
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,258	Great pictures. To me it reinforces my opinion that it was some type of ceremonial spear, especially at the base of the carved blade that looks like a socket entering the shaft. The tip does look reshaped in my opinion, but it appears that it was done a long time ago. Still a wonderful piece, whatever it is!