African ethno sabre for coments

[Jim McDougall]

Good one Fearn!!! Maybelline city!!!! now that is weird.

[fernando]

Looking for persons who may have something (further) to say about this, i have managed to establish contact with a researcher and author of some books on Dogon cosmologic symbols and mythology, Laird Scranton. This is his opinnion:

Although I cannot verify beyond question that the object is Dogon, my best guess based on Dogon symbolism is that it represents a stylized jackal - an animal that symbolizes the concept of disorder for the Dogon. A sword is an object that can wreak havoc and create chaos, so the jackal would be a very appropriate choice.

Still a "best guess" and not yet solid evidence. So the case is not yet filed.

Fernando

[katana]

Hi Fernando,
I am still skeptical that it represents a Jackal. One of its characteristics is its pointed ears...surely a representation would have this feature
I have searched the many forms of Dogon masks but cannot find one that is described as a Jackel...or has rounded ears / large eye ridges/ 'cobra hood'.
There is an African wild dog that has the rounded ears but the Dogon area is not within it's 'range'. There is , of course, the possibility that the sword, although acquired from the Dogon was manufactured elsewhere.

If it is a Jackal ..couldn't the sword be descibed as a 'dog on sword'

If I discover any relevent information I will post it for you.

Kind Regards David

[fernando]

Originally Posted by katana

Hi Fernando,
I am still skeptical that it represents a Jackal. One of its characteristics is its pointed ears...surely a representation would have this feature
I have searched the many forms of Dogon masks but cannot find one that is described as a Jackel...or has rounded ears / large eye ridges/ 'cobra hood'.
There is an African wild dog that has the rounded ears but the Dogon area is not within it's 'range'. There is , of course, the possibility that the sword, although acquired from the Dogon was manufactured elsewhere.

If it is a Jackal ..couldn't the sword be descibed as a 'dog on sword'

If I discover any relevent information I will post it for you.

Kind Regards David

Thank you for your colaboration David,
I know nothing yet can be taken as definite.
Also we can't tell what parts of whatever animal are more or less stylized (caricatured) in this work, unless we see something of the kind.
Yes, the wild dog (Lycaon pictus) used to exist also in the Mali region, but not any longer.
I think that, once establishing the solidity of the information about the sword having been bought from the Dogon, at a litle village in their Mali region, i see no reason for it not being their work. I am emailing Ashoka Arts, asking him what he would say about it.
Sometimes i look at this figure and feel that the position it has on the pommel, is relative to its actual anatomy ... meaning it would be an animal with an upright neck and a nape, therefore excluding reptiles.
Fernando

[Jim McDougall]

Excellent work Fernando! going right to the sources by contacting the author on Dogon symbology references. It always gets me charged up when research on a weapon reaches these levels, and though all any of us can do is offer plausible ideas, it is interesting to see if those with published knowledge might corroborate any of them.

I must confess my inclinations are still not specifically toward the jackal, but I do find the representation of the jackal and chaos in the Dogon culture most interesting. Given the presence of totemically represented subversive groups and secret societies in West Africa and Sahelian societies, even well into the Congo, that concept seems somewhat feasible. Perhaps certain established hierarchy of such a group within Dogon culture might have worn such weapons as these ceremonially.

Returning to earlier discussion and the radically stylized zoomorphic representations, I think it is important to again recall the temporal imaging of these decorative features. I think yet another example of such an image (besides that of the mysterious flyssa pommel) is that of the aghrab seen on many Arabian scabbards. This stylized feature is supposed to represent a scorpion, and along with other familiar motif, protect against evil eye. No matter how much I look at these 'aghrab' I cannot possibly visualize a scorpion!

I think that our best bet is to review known Dogon material culture and art as well as that of neighboring tribes and regions to see if any items might have corroborating decoation or motif.

[fernando]

Thanks for all the enthusiasm, Jim .
I wonder if there are jackals in the Tucson desert
Fernando

[fearn]

A couple o' comments.

Katana--Woof!

Fernando, Jim, and all,

I agree it's possible that it's a jackal. I'm just trying to figure out how many swords I've seen marked with symbols of chaos and disorder (excluding modern fantasy stuff). It would be like saying that the cross on many European swords was an inverted, satanic cross, or perhaps more accurately, it would be like having Kali on a hindu sword.

While I agree that swords do spread chaos and disorder, more typically, the symbolism on them is protective, not destructive. Even when the swords are being used to spread destruction, I think it's human nature to attribute said destruction to self defense or some positive virtue, rather than deliberately causing disorder. In short hand, "He deserved what he got."

That's why I'm not convinced it's a jackal.

You get into interesting discussions talking with experts across fields. For instance, many academics do not study weaponry, and many martial artists and collectors aren't scholars (though many here are). Sometimes the lack of a common reference frame makes things interesting.

My favorite example was when I was reading the translated titles of moves in a Chinese martial arts set. One move was "Boa constrictor coils around the tree." I told my teacher (who'd translated it) that it couldn't possibly be a boa constrictor. He wouldn't hear of it. The thing he didn't know was that boa constrictors are new world animals only. The word he should have used was python, but to him, a big snake was a big snake, good only for nature shows and chopping. The name wasn't important.

With this dog(-)on sword, it's possible that the Dogon scholar's attribution was influenced by his personal attribution of violence to a sword, rather than by his knowledge of Dogon sword symbolism. I'm not saying he's wrong, it's hard to tell, at this remove, how much he knows specifically about Dogon weaponry.

Finally, Fernando: there are "jackals" in the Arizona desert. Both the four-legged and the two-legged kind are called "coyotes," and I think I trust the four-legged kind a little more these days.

My 0.00002 centavos,

F

[Jim McDougall]

EXTREMELY well said Fearn!!! and you're right, most sword symbolism calls upon protection rather than aggressive chaos (although the names given to swords such as the Viking swords etc. are pretty formidable......my own personal tulwar named 'killer of ceiling fans'!).

I also agree that typically the focus of academics and martial artists (including weapons historians) are worlds apart. I cannot even say how many disappointing times I have tried to find information concerning weaponry from various authors and authorities on art, cultures and anthropology, even archaeologists, and might as well have been speaking in Klingon. It does seem that of late, there have been some advances, but some authors I know writing in these areas and trying to address this perspective often express similar frustrations.

I agree with the note on the scholarly opinion of the gentleman on the possible jackal symbolism. It is a subjective opinion, based presumably on collective knowledge, but undoubtedly carrying influence of personal experience and perspective. Again, a temporal application.

You guys are right about the coyotes out here!!! and they were really loud last night!! (I'm still chuckling about David's reference to good old Wile, dragging around that anvil!! on the pointy thing thread).

Very good discussion here, regardless of whether or not conclusive, its great to see very sound observations and reasoning, kind of ethnographic weapon forensics.

All best regards,
Jim

[fernando]

I Fearn, thank you for the input.
I completely understand your reasoning on what touches a certain field academic's point of view not having to necessarily been intrinsecal to a issue out of his context. But i would also adventure that, even if he is within the weaponry matter, he might still only offer intelectual conclusions as, in the case of (at least) this sword, the representation of this animal figure might not be the result of a pattern work, but a unique development, therefore impossible or rather hard to be identified by a weapons collector or even a scholar.
When i contacted this person, as i am trying to contact others, was with the hope that, during his researches, he might have seen or even handled objects or images that enabled him to regconize the figure in my sword ... or knew someone able to do it. Instead he offered me his best guess, which i have considered as such, like i have posted above.
In fact, after hearing all the coments posted here and after browsing the Net for all days past, it realy seems as the work in this sword (sabre) looks quicker to be some isolated work than a job following a standard procedure ... this still within the field of speculation.
The jackals in the Arizona desert was a number for Jim, as i knew he had just crossed Tucson, in his RV .
... but i admit i didn't think of two-legged ones, though
Fernando

PS
I liked the centavos thing .

[fearn]

de nada, Fernando (that about exhausts my Spanish, too).

I agree, it's all subjective, without some information of a tradition or comparable objects. Still, speculation's fun.

Glad you're enjoying the desert Jim. Hope those little song-doggies aren't keeping you up at night.

Best,

Fearn

[Jim McDougall]

Thanks Fearn and Fernando!
Well Fearn tomorrow bright and early we're headed north toward Grand Canyon, there are not many of these guys up there. Gotta admit I'll sorta miss the nightly serenade! It really is beautiful down here, gonna miss that too.

All the best,
Jim

[Tim Simmons]

The Hornbill image fits with protective symbolism most often associated with swords. As I mentioned before it can be found on many artifacts usually conected to good human endevours. I am still without my PC so have been unable to follow this thread as I would like.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

The Hornbill image fits with protective symbolism most often associated with swords. As I mentioned before it can be found on many artifacts usually conected to good human endevours. I am still without my PC so have been unable to follow this thread as I would like.

Hi Tim,
I am sorry for your computer still being unavailable; i hope you get it back soon.
I will allways wait for your usualy interesting and usefull material, as no other way it could be.
Let me tell you that so far, the creatures sugested to be represented in this sword pommel, comprise enough variety to open a Zoo. Between the members of this forum and opinnions gathered out there, i have: jackal, wild dog, hornbill, hooded cobra, crocodile, hyena, lizard, deer, gazelle, fox, dog, reptile, praying mantis, and even a skeptical "made this way deliberatly so that the owner can say it's whatever he wants it to be".
After i opened this thread, i have contacted cosmologists, anthropologists, travel agents in Africa and antique arms specialists, as well as other "ists".
The reason for my insistent search is that i haven't yet had an opinnion considered solid by the very person who issues it, nor i had a couple coinciding strong sugestions or decisive verdicts. I am as blank as i was when i started.
Exception made for the hornbill, proposed by you, Tim, with such firmness that makes me consider that must be the thing.
I will be expecting your further material, soon as your PC allows it.
Fernando

[fernando]

Just look at the following coments, received from a guy that runs a gallery of African art, and who is also a collector:

This is a very nice sword, an interesting ethnographic piece. I'm not so sure about the origin, the metal work doesn't seem Dogon to me, but more a Mossi (Burkina) work. The form is very elegant, and the piece seems old (I would say 19th). The shape looks like an old French colonial period sword. The bird head at the pommel is certainly a hornbill (prominent eyes and a long beak). Anyway, a nice interesting piece. Dogon blacksmiths are not so good, except with iron works, so the pommel should have been done by a Mossi blacksmith.
Hope this will help.

No coments .

Fernando

[Jim McDougall]

Thats excellent Fernando, and I admire your tenacity! It seems that Tim was right about the hornbill (which does not surprise me with his knowledge on African art).
It seems interesting that the hornbill is so prevalent in representation in other ethnographic spheres also, and though I am not that familiar with Asian and Indonesian symbology, I recall that the hornbill is often mentioned with the 'mandau' and it seems some other weapons.

Interesting comments on the Mossi attribution also.

Best regards,
Jim

[Tim Simmons]

You make me blush, just when I thought I had my roseasia under control.