Various war clubs

eftihis · 24th February 2021, 09:41 PM

I am wondering about the origin of these war clubs. Three of them are made of wood, the rest i would say is from another material that looks like bone or horn.

shayde78 · 24th February 2021, 09:47 PM

The middle one, with the twist, looks as though it is intended to emulate a phallus from some large mammal. It looks to be carved from wood, so I'm not saying it is indeed one, but the shape suggests it came from a culture that would fashion items from animal penises. Either that, or I need Freud to tell me "sometimes a cigar is just a cigar"!

Overall, they have an African 'feel' to me, but I am no expert, so wait for those with actual knowledge to weigh in.

Athanase · 25th February 2021, 01:03 PM

For me clubs numbers 2, 4 and 8 are made of bone for sure. I'm less sure about 6 and 7, but it also looks a bit like it.
Number 4 is made from the bone that is inside the horn (Probably Taurotragus oryx).
If the number 6 is indeed a bone I think it is made from an ulna of a large herbivorous mammal, the same for the 8.

Tim Simmons · 25th February 2021, 02:15 PM

It would be nice to have some measurements and more individual pictures. Very interesting, some do appear to be smoked bone. I like the white bone one in particular.

24th February 2021, 09:41 PM	#1
eftihis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chania Crete Greece Posts: 507	Various war clubs I am wondering about the origin of these war clubs. Three of them are made of wood, the rest i would say is from another material that looks like bone or horn. Attached Images

24th February 2021, 09:47 PM	#2
shayde78 Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 445	The middle one, with the twist, looks as though it is intended to emulate a phallus from some large mammal. It looks to be carved from wood, so I'm not saying it is indeed one, but the shape suggests it came from a culture that would fashion items from animal penises. Either that, or I need Freud to tell me "sometimes a cigar is just a cigar"! Overall, they have an African 'feel' to me, but I am no expert, so wait for those with actual knowledge to weigh in.

25th February 2021, 01:03 PM	#3
Athanase Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Paris (France) Posts: 408	For me clubs numbers 2, 4 and 8 are made of bone for sure. I'm less sure about 6 and 7, but it also looks a bit like it. Number 4 is made from the bone that is inside the horn (Probably Taurotragus oryx). If the number 6 is indeed a bone I think it is made from an ulna of a large herbivorous mammal, the same for the 8.

25th February 2021, 02:15 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,806	It would be nice to have some measurements and more individual pictures. Very interesting, some do appear to be smoked bone. I like the white bone one in particular.