Mystery (Ceremonial?) Knife...

Martin Lubojacky · 29th June 2010, 09:11 PM

This should be from Nigeria.
regards,
Martin
P.S. And, I am very afraid - made just to be sold

laEspadaAncha · 29th June 2010, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Lubojacky

This should be from Nigeria.
regards,
Martin
P.S. And, I am very afraid - made just to be sold

Hi Martin,

Thank you, and no worries... I took pictures of it at his house to put it up in front of the forum before I bought it for this very reason.

I have several African pieces - edged weapons, masks, and a shield - all which were made for indigenous use (ceremonial, warfare, or otherwise), and I wish not to dilute the collection with pieces made purely for the tourist market.

Anybody else want to chime in?

Luc LEFEBVRE · 29th June 2010, 10:26 PM

This is a Bata, Vere, Namdschi knife from Nigeria/Cameroon.
In fact, it don't seems to be a good one.

laEspadaAncha · 29th June 2010, 10:48 PM

We have a match!

Thank you Luc... You have a PM coming your way.

Martin Lubojacky · 30th June 2010, 07:54 PM

Similar handle, the sword is nearly 1 meter long

laEspadaAncha · 30th June 2010, 08:22 PM

So were these intended to be used for ceremonial purposes, as status symbols, or were any of them intended for utilitarian use? The example my friend has is heavy - on the back side of 1kg - and as mentioned, the blade is a simple piece of flattened iron with no sharp edges.

Are you still under the impression my friend's example was made for the tourist trade?

Martin Lubojacky · 2nd July 2010, 08:51 PM

I think Luc would know better. My personal opinion is status symbol.
Re tourist o real one: This is my personal opinion again, as I have send such "black patina" from my two pieces (one sword, one bracelet) to the laboratory and the resalt was "fake", false patina. On the opposite, when I bought such more or less current item directly in Mandara mountains, the brass was never so dark.

29th June 2010, 10:26 PM	#3
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 473	This is a Bata, Vere, Namdschi knife from Nigeria/Cameroon. In fact, it don't seems to be a good one. Attached Images

30th June 2010, 07:54 PM	#5
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 843	Similar handle, the sword is nearly 1 meter long Attached Images

29th June 2010, 09:11 PM	#1
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 843	This should be from Nigeria. regards, Martin P.S. And, I am very afraid - made just to be sold

29th June 2010, 10:48 PM	#4
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	We have a match! Thank you Luc... You have a PM coming your way.

30th June 2010, 08:22 PM	#6
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	So were these intended to be used for ceremonial purposes, as status symbols, or were any of them intended for utilitarian use? The example my friend has is heavy - on the back side of 1kg - and as mentioned, the blade is a simple piece of flattened iron with no sharp edges. Are you still under the impression my friend's example was made for the tourist trade?

2nd July 2010, 08:51 PM	#7
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 843	I think Luc would know better. My personal opinion is status symbol. Re tourist o real one: This is my personal opinion again, as I have send such "black patina" from my two pieces (one sword, one bracelet) to the laboratory and the resalt was "fake", false patina. On the opposite, when I bought such more or less current item directly in Mandara mountains, the brass was never so dark.