Recently finished on eBay.... Zulu ?

katana · 20th September 2008, 02:42 PM

Hi
this recently finished on eBay....another Zulu item, I have my own thoughts.... but was curious as to the thoughts and comments of others

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MEWA:IT&ih=010

Thank you

Regards David

colin henshaw · 20th September 2008, 02:56 PM

Hi David

I think its from further north - one of the Shona group of tribes, maybe an nganga's (diviner's) piece.

Regards
Colin

katana · 20th September 2008, 08:28 PM

Hi Colin

,
I agree that its unlikely to be Zulu, Shona a good possibility. Seller sold this as a weapon

With the axe section passing through the shaft and the tang of the spearhead coming in from the top ...the wood section would be very weak. I thought ceremonial ..... but very interested in your suggestion of a divination 'tool', do you know of any examples that you could post ?
A little concerned that the piece is not as old as the 19th C stated. The wood haft has little patination and the 'circle' design looks quite 'fresh' ...but that maybe just the pictures.

The spearhead interested me, as I have not seen 'barbs' on the metal shafts of spears from South Africa ...again if anyone has any examples please post them.

Kind Regards David

colin henshaw · 20th September 2008, 08:41 PM

I don't have a decent digital camera at present, but a couple of references are :-

Barrie Reynolds "The Material Culture of the Peoples of the Gwembe Valley" 1966, Page 104, fig 25.

South African website www.ezakwantu.com has a similar-type piece.

I shall try to find some more and post them.

Regards, Colin

katana · 20th September 2008, 09:00 PM

Hi Colin,
thanks for the link....its now in my favorites

There is one 'similar' example stated as Shona - Karanga related, I like this example better

Regards David

.

Freddy · 23rd September 2008, 07:26 PM

A Dutch friend of mine has a similar piece. It's the one in the middle. I've been trying to get it into my collection for quite some time. One day, I will succeed

He thinks it comes from East-Africa.

Here's a pic :

20th September 2008, 02:42 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Recently finished on eBay.... Zulu ? Hi this recently finished on eBay....another Zulu item, I have my own thoughts.... but was curious as to the thoughts and comments of others http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MEWA:IT&ih=010 Thank you Regards David

20th September 2008, 09:00 PM	#5
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Hi Colin, thanks for the link....its now in my favorites There is one 'similar' example stated as Shona - Karanga related, I like this example better Regards David . Attached Images

20th September 2008, 02:56 PM	#2
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	Hi David I think its from further north - one of the Shona group of tribes, maybe an nganga's (diviner's) piece. Regards Colin

20th September 2008, 08:28 PM	#3
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Hi Colin , I agree that its unlikely to be Zulu, Shona a good possibility. Seller sold this as a weapon With the axe section passing through the shaft and the tang of the spearhead coming in from the top ...the wood section would be very weak. I thought ceremonial ..... but very interested in your suggestion of a divination 'tool', do you know of any examples that you could post ? A little concerned that the piece is not as old as the 19th C stated. The wood haft has little patination and the 'circle' design looks quite 'fresh' ...but that maybe just the pictures. The spearhead interested me, as I have not seen 'barbs' on the metal shafts of spears from South Africa ...again if anyone has any examples please post them. Kind Regards David

20th September 2008, 08:41 PM	#4
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	I don't have a decent digital camera at present, but a couple of references are :- Barrie Reynolds "The Material Culture of the Peoples of the Gwembe Valley" 1966, Page 104, fig 25. South African website www.ezakwantu.com has a similar-type piece. I shall try to find some more and post them. Regards, Colin

23rd September 2008, 07:26 PM	#6
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	A Dutch friend of mine has a similar piece. It's the one in the middle. I've been trying to get it into my collection for quite some time. One day, I will succeed He thinks it comes from East-Africa. Here's a pic :