A second, older Baule sword

Jim McDougall · 13th July 2008, 04:32 AM

Thanks Bill! These really are fantastic!
Are these shells the cowrie shells? Are they intended to represent wealth, or is other meaning implied....too much tradition for simple decoration.....beautiful as it is.

G. McCormack · 13th July 2008, 06:36 AM

Awesome swords, love that last photo seeing the two together. Beautiful, Bill.

Bill M · 13th July 2008, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Thanks Bill! These really are fantastic!
Are these shells the cowrie shells? Are they intended to represent wealth, or is other meaning implied....too much tradition for simple decoration.....beautiful as it is.

Hi Jim,

As Freddy said in a earlier post,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddy

I found a similar sword in the book 'Afrikanische Waffen' by Werner Fischer and Manfred A. Zirngibl (1978).

The shells on the sheath belong to the spondylus-family. They are naturally red, but are polished in order to give them a smooth surface before using them as a decorative addition.

Here's the pic from their book :

Since the older sword pictured in this post is almost identical to the one posted by Freddy, I would hope he could give us some more information about it.

Tim Simmons · 13th July 2008, 02:46 PM

What!!!! you have two of them.

Lucky chap.

13th July 2008, 04:32 AM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,833	Thanks Bill! These really are fantastic! Are these shells the cowrie shells? Are they intended to represent wealth, or is other meaning implied....too much tradition for simple decoration.....beautiful as it is.

13th July 2008, 06:36 AM	#2
G. McCormack Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 131	Awesome swords, love that last photo seeing the two together. Beautiful, Bill.

13th July 2008, 02:46 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,970	What!!!! you have two of them. Lucky chap.