African ceremonial axes

[Tim Simmons]

I have an object I would like to reply with except I am at 6s & 7s for the time being.

Ron, I have to say there is something about the lighting to your pictures that is a little odd and rather off puting {the same with the pacific NW club} sorry. Having said that I have the feeling these are from further west of Nigeria as you mention Ivory Coast. I think most likely Burkina Faso but that is just a guess. Certainly Ivory Coast, Burkina and possibly Ghana. I have this armlet with the very same work on it.
I am bothered by the coarseness to the work here, even if the imagery fits with tradition, making me think at times of doubt that they might have been made for those who travel? but they are hardly the type of item for your sideboard? We could be looking at a late production and as with all products quality can vary from one maker to the next.
Compare the armlet with this anklet from the Cameroon. A little bigger and superbly cast with less lead in the alloy. A master class in bees wax work. You can see the application of wax on the inside pictures. Unlike the other piece I show there is not a file mark anywhere. There may well have been a more sophistcated court life in regions of the Cameroon? The latice work represents spiders as seen on stools and Cameroon sculpture/masks and applied arts.