Cameroon lance head

Iain · 17th April 2012, 11:17 AM

An interesting item Tim. Can't recall having seen anything similar but my memory is poor and my experience with spears rather lacking.

The style of the work could certainly fit the region.

The construction makes me think perhaps a staff of office?

Martin Lubojacky · 17th April 2012, 08:48 PM

This is another interesting spearhead. The length is 95 cms, maximal width of the blade is 4.3 cms, inner diameter of the sleeve is only 2 cms. The bulbous part is made of bronze, the blade is steel. It should be Cameroon, but I am not sure about more detailed location. My idea is the engravings on the blade are Touareg - like, the bronze part is like from Vere or Mambila region (?; strange mixture). Curator of African collection in Naprstek Museum in Prague is of the opinion this comes from grassland (?)
Regards,
Martin

Martin Lubojacky · 17th April 2012, 08:54 PM

one picture more

Iain · 17th April 2012, 10:18 PM

Very interesting Martin. The pattern in the bronze certainly appears on Vere daggers but I have also seen it on other groups as well. Thanks for sharing.

Iain · 31st December 2013, 10:01 PM

Hi Martin,

To bring this old thread back to life, I received today this lance head which is like the one you showed. Only mine is smaller at 67cm.

Blade design is similar, interestingly mine has a little leather scabbard, not a feature I saw before.

Martin Lubojacky · 31st December 2013, 10:17 PM

Hi Iain,
This is really very interesting piece. Congratulations
Martin

Iain · 1st January 2014, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Lubojacky

Hi Iain,
This is really very interesting piece. Congratulations
Martin

Thanks Martin, here is another photo to show the scale better against my other lance head.

17th April 2012, 08:48 PM	#2
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 845	This is another interesting spearhead. The length is 95 cms, maximal width of the blade is 4.3 cms, inner diameter of the sleeve is only 2 cms. The bulbous part is made of bronze, the blade is steel. It should be Cameroon, but I am not sure about more detailed location. My idea is the engravings on the blade are Touareg - like, the bronze part is like from Vere or Mambila region (?; strange mixture). Curator of African collection in Naprstek Museum in Prague is of the opinion this comes from grassland (?) Regards, Martin Attached Images

17th April 2012, 08:54 PM	#3
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 845	one picture more Attached Images

31st December 2013, 10:01 PM	#5
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,719	Hi Martin, To bring this old thread back to life, I received today this lance head which is like the one you showed. Only mine is smaller at 67cm. Blade design is similar, interestingly mine has a little leather scabbard, not a feature I saw before. Attached Images

17th April 2012, 11:17 AM	#1
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,719	An interesting item Tim. Can't recall having seen anything similar but my memory is poor and my experience with spears rather lacking. The style of the work could certainly fit the region. The construction makes me think perhaps a staff of office?

17th April 2012, 10:18 PM	#4
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,719	Very interesting Martin. The pattern in the bronze certainly appears on Vere daggers but I have also seen it on other groups as well. Thanks for sharing.

31st December 2013, 10:17 PM	#6
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 845	Hi Iain, This is really very interesting piece. Congratulations Martin