Fon recade

Tim Simmons · 14th April 2007, 05:06 PM

I stumbled across this Recade? today at a local car boot sale. Not strictly a weapon but if they are good enough for C. Springs. "African Arms and Armour" then it should be okay here. Not the best quallity but still a nice find. Must have belonged to somebody fairly low in the food chain but important enough to have one. The top and bottom pieces were silver plated, unusual but not unheard of. Length 50cm. I was certain it was African work but it took me some time to realise I was looking at a stylised lions head and mane . Howling for Wolf, what is your opinion?

Tim Simmons · 14th April 2007, 05:11 PM

Close ups under a different light.

katana · 14th April 2007, 05:28 PM

Hi Tim,
looks European or Indian to me....and the head looks to be more canine ..than feline

The suspension (?) rings 'top and bottom' suggests it was hung horizontally. My initial feeling was that this item has something to do with coaches (horse drawn)....but cannot remember why this is so....

But I could be mistaken ......nothing unusual there

Seeing your newer images....perhaps a tiger head...and if so, India is quite likely to be the origin

Tim Simmons · 14th April 2007, 06:00 PM

Hi Dave,
Horse trappings and India were my first thoughts also. A horses head and mane. Then after more thought, the rings and whole thing seems rather on the light side to be part of a horse bit and other trappings. When at home I was able to look through a few books. A lions head is frequently found on recade. I could start uploading pics for discussion. I think the rings are added possibly to flash it up as it is not the most special. It is possible that there was a lanyard of some material and ribbons? stuff? could go on the top ring? At 50cm they would have to be like Shetland ponies

. Is it pony and trap?

PS. A quick google Fon Recade comes up with quite a lot of info and pics of various types many feature a lion.

Tim Simmons · 14th April 2007, 06:59 PM

Look at this one.
http://www.tribal-art-auktion.de/kat...-48-Inhalt.pdf

Tim Simmons · 14th April 2007, 08:11 PM

Just remembered to add that a roughness of finish is part some Fon art expression. Being that it was silver plated perhaps it is from someone a little higher up in the food chain.

Tim Simmons · 7th September 2010, 09:09 PM

Just got this ebay example. A good deal more substancial than the one I have. The example I already have, the wood part is less than 1/2 inch diametre. This new one being 1 inch diametre but the same length just over 19 inchs. I think it is pretty cool and I really like the way the lion head is broken into two parts, the mane and head being seperate. This treatment is so unusual for me. It is a deliberate not formed from lack of skill.

14th April 2007, 05:06 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,772	Fon recade I stumbled across this Recade? today at a local car boot sale. Not strictly a weapon but if they are good enough for C. Springs. "African Arms and Armour" then it should be okay here. Not the best quallity but still a nice find. Must have belonged to somebody fairly low in the food chain but important enough to have one. The top and bottom pieces were silver plated, unusual but not unheard of. Length 50cm. I was certain it was African work but it took me some time to realise I was looking at a stylised lions head and mane . Howling for Wolf, what is your opinion?

14th April 2007, 05:11 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,772	Close ups under a different light. Attached Images

14th April 2007, 05:28 PM	#3
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Hi Tim, looks European or Indian to me....and the head looks to be more canine ..than feline The suspension (?) rings 'top and bottom' suggests it was hung horizontally. My initial feeling was that this item has something to do with coaches (horse drawn)....but cannot remember why this is so.... But I could be mistaken ......nothing unusual there Seeing your newer images....perhaps a tiger head...and if so, India is quite likely to be the origin Last edited by katana; 14th April 2007 at 05:42 PM.

14th April 2007, 06:00 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,772	Hi Dave, Horse trappings and India were my first thoughts also. A horses head and mane. Then after more thought, the rings and whole thing seems rather on the light side to be part of a horse bit and other trappings. When at home I was able to look through a few books. A lions head is frequently found on recade. I could start uploading pics for discussion. I think the rings are added possibly to flash it up as it is not the most special. It is possible that there was a lanyard of some material and ribbons? stuff? could go on the top ring? At 50cm they would have to be like Shetland ponies . Is it pony and trap? PS. A quick google Fon Recade comes up with quite a lot of info and pics of various types many feature a lion. Last edited by Tim Simmons; 14th April 2007 at 06:36 PM. Reason: Post script

7th September 2010, 09:09 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,772	Just got this ebay example. A good deal more substancial than the one I have. The example I already have, the wood part is less than 1/2 inch diametre. This new one being 1 inch diametre but the same length just over 19 inchs. I think it is pretty cool and I really like the way the lion head is broken into two parts, the mane and head being seperate. This treatment is so unusual for me. It is a deliberate not formed from lack of skill. Attached Images

14th April 2007, 06:59 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,772	Look at this one. http://www.tribal-art-auktion.de/kat...-48-Inhalt.pdf

14th April 2007, 08:11 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,772	Just remembered to add that a roughness of finish is part some Fon art expression. Being that it was silver plated perhaps it is from someone a little higher up in the food chain.