Most curious knobkerrie/stick?

[Tim Simmons]

Sold as South African. Recent post ww2. Shown next to an old one. Interesting head with rather pointy ears and male pattern baldness, a devil, a devil white man? A weird one but of traditional form except the style of carving for the face. On handling I am sure it was not made as a tourist piece. It may reflect on the more turbulent times of modern SA. I wonder whether Douglas might be able to say a little more. It could be from further north like Tanzania or Kenya. I like it now, it will blend in very nicely with the other sticks.

[Lew]

Tim

That was fast or is that a pic from the seller? Very interesting club. I would say it is more of a ceremonial club than a weapon of combat.

Lew

[Tim Simmons]

Yes very fast, it came from 10 miles down the road, they brought it round. I would agree that it is some kind of regalia. I also do not think it is South African. I have a feeling that it is from Kenya or Tanzania by the wood. I do believe that from Kenya one can find metal staffs in a similar fashion to the Indo/Persian maze with a head and grimacing face and horns. This could be in that vein. As I said I doubt it is earlier than 1940. If it not too much of a romantic leap, it may be linked to the Mau Mau who had some rather dark ceremonies in preparing combatants. Unfortunately the artifacts of the Mau Mau would have been considered curious rubbish and no records of there form and function would have been studied. Unless someone else may know more.

[The Double D]

Douglas say Interesting head with rather pointy ears and male pattern boldness, a devil, a devil white man? A weird one but of traditional form except the style of carving for the face. If you don't know. plagerize, maybe you will fool someone.

I haven't studied up on the knobkerries, can't help you.

[Tim Simmons]

Well you might have been a world authority I am sure it is from Kenya. Just a feeling.

[Lew]

Tim

Maybe it is a Vulcan war club kind of reminds me of Mr. Spock


Lew

[Tim Simmons]

Beam me up

[katana]

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

Tim

Maybe it is a Vulcan war club kind of reminds me of Mr. Spock


Lew

NOW THAT WOULD BE ......ILLOGICAL

[Emanuel]

Tim, Lew and David, these African clubs of yours are becoming quite appealing to my eyes. I'm thinking I should definitely start hunting for these

The face also looks a lot like that of a hippopotamus, stylized and frontal, but hippo nonetheless. If Kenya and Tanzania are likely origins, such an animal would make sense no?
http://www.scz.org/animals/h/hippo2.html

Emanuel

[katana]

There are a number of monkey species resident in Africa which have pointed ears, Baboons have slightly pointed ears.....and are incredibly fierce looking when in an aggressive mood.....however, the MPB 'contours' are a mystery....
Unless there IS a 'Trekkie' Knobkerrie maker who decided to 'morph' Spock with Capt. Jean-Luc Picard

[Tim Simmons]

I like sticks, not walking sticks. The pure simple stick as a weapon inoffensive looking, a wolf in sheep's clothing. Also the stick as the ultimate weapon symbol exuding authority, a small baton. A magical staff to denote a believed ability to commune with the occult world. All fascinate me.

I still think this is Kenyan and a staff of some sort. I do not see a stylised animal face especially one with the most common form of baldness. Look at the hair rounding the ear. The Mau Mau fighters taken prisoner had thier oath to the "witch doctor" neutralised by a government sanctioned "witch doctor" in the battle for hearts and minds.

[Emanuel]

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

...Also the stick as the ultimate weapon symbol exuding authority, a small baton.

I fully agree Tim, as a weapon the stick is the simplest and most efficient. And there is great beauty about it, especially when carved out of fine wood. A scepter is, after all, just a luxurious mace, which is a re-inforced club. I will definitely start collecting them. As for this particular specimen, wouldn't the carving get too damaged if it were used as a club? It may indeed be more appropriate as a talisman/ceremonial staff.