Songye brass adze

Mapico1 · 9th November 2008, 10:28 PM

Hi Tim,
handle is probably a Tetela one who also have multiple-dot decoration on other types of their axes and on their spears.
Blade however is not right in my opinion,wrong angle,shape and not long enough.About gold...????? don't know...not seen before.
Regards,
Danny

Tim Simmons · 10th November 2008, 07:05 AM

Thank you Danny, a very ostentatious piece. Luckily I got it for a snip so I have just about enough money to get a copy of a book "The red gold of Africa" and hope that there may be some answers on the use of copper alloys and leaf. Chapter 4 looks promising.

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=C...gold+of+africa

Tim Simmons · 10th November 2008, 08:40 AM

Just looking around, this is the kind of copper alloy I am thinking about. Used as a leaf to gild.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corinthian_brass

Tim Simmons · 20th November 2008, 05:23 PM

There seems little doubt that artist in the Congo were familar with copper alloys. I cannot upload a whole book. Here are some snippets. It is not fully explained what they mean by the colour of "china" it could be the gild on china. The artists knew about colour wether it was native smelted and alloyed or made from import metals. Making leaf would not be a problem for such artists and smiths. The brass blade and finish all suggest it to be one of the many objets de luxe made for the court. This book is well worth getting.

Tim Simmons · 20th November 2008, 07:23 PM

Other goods from the Gold coast could come the other way.

9th November 2008, 10:28 PM	#1
Mapico1 Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 86	Songye....Nsapo.........Tetela Hi Tim, handle is probably a Tetela one who also have multiple-dot decoration on other types of their axes and on their spears. Blade however is not right in my opinion,wrong angle,shape and not long enough.About gold...????? don't know...not seen before. Regards, Danny

20th November 2008, 05:23 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,842	There seems little doubt that artist in the Congo were familar with copper alloys. I cannot upload a whole book. Here are some snippets. It is not fully explained what they mean by the colour of "china" it could be the gild on china. The artists knew about colour wether it was native smelted and alloyed or made from import metals. Making leaf would not be a problem for such artists and smiths. The brass blade and finish all suggest it to be one of the many objets de luxe made for the court. This book is well worth getting. Attached Images Last edited by Tim Simmons; 20th November 2008 at 05:33 PM.

20th November 2008, 07:23 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,842	Other goods from the Gold coast could come the other way. Attached Images

10th November 2008, 07:05 AM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,842	Thank you Danny, a very ostentatious piece. Luckily I got it for a snip so I have just about enough money to get a copy of a book "The red gold of Africa" and hope that there may be some answers on the use of copper alloys and leaf. Chapter 4 looks promising. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=C...gold+of+africa

10th November 2008, 08:40 AM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,842	Just looking around, this is the kind of copper alloy I am thinking about. Used as a leaf to gild. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corinthian_brass