Lew Waldman's Ethnographic Arms & Armour Collection Archive


195 - Large East African Spear, From the Time of the Mahdist Revolt in Sudan

A large very broad bladed spearhead typical of the type associated with the British Sudan campaigns of the late 19th century. The 13¾ inch (35 cm.) long leaf-shaped blade widens from an acute point to a maximum breadth of 4¾ inch (12 cm.) before narrowing to join a 3½ (9 cm.) inch long socket that will accommodate a ¾ inch (1.9 cm.) pole. Two faint inscribed lines track the edges of a double edged blade that has a low central midrib. Very subtly, the blade shows a cross-section typical of African work with a flat face going from the edge to the midline on one side (the lower face in the photographs) with the opposite side being slightly hollowed. The overall length is 17½ inches (44.5 cm.) with a weight of 20.8 ounces.

Provenance: Oriental Arms 9188




Return to item index page