African shape !

Luc LEFEBVRE · 27th February 2006, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by not2sharp

Just following that line of thought, am I the only one who thinks the copper coils around the handle (head), resemble the traditional neck adornment worn by the women in parts of Africa?

n2s

I don't think so, this kind of necklace comes from East-Africa most of the time, and in this part of the continent the weapons 'handles are not really covered with this kind of copper strands, but with leather (Masai) or just wood.
But this is my opinion...
This is a particularity of Congo's weapons, with red copper or brass wire, as you know, the Congo was (is) a big producer of copper, especially in Katanga.
It is a good grip for the handle, easy to work and decorative.
Strands of copper used by european (electric motors...) were also "recycled".
You can also find most of the traditional weapons, made with copper or brass blades, used as currency or for ceremony.
Luc

Luc

Jim McDougall · 27th February 2006, 11:52 PM

N2S, outstanding observation!! and extremely well placed. I had not thought of that and that is exactly the kind of thinking that is key in assessing the identification and cultural implications of ethnographic weapons.

Although as Luc has indicated, the regional origins of these weapons may not correspond directly to such adornments from other areas, I think the association is well placed. What has always amazed me about African weapons is the incredible diffusion via trade and intertribal contacts that network across the continent. Several years ago I worked on research on the so-called Zanzibar swords, which actually it seems, derived from Morocco, and such diffusion occurred via these same type networks, in this case trans-Saharan.

Luc, also very well placed observations, and thank you for including the references! The weapons of Africa are intriguing and almost always a puzzle, and this kind of discussion really helps .The references help us keep our bearings in ongoing research, so we dont retravel the same roads.Thank you!

All the best,
Jim

27th February 2006, 11:52 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,597	N2S, outstanding observation!! and extremely well placed. I had not thought of that and that is exactly the kind of thinking that is key in assessing the identification and cultural implications of ethnographic weapons. Although as Luc has indicated, the regional origins of these weapons may not correspond directly to such adornments from other areas, I think the association is well placed. What has always amazed me about African weapons is the incredible diffusion via trade and intertribal contacts that network across the continent. Several years ago I worked on research on the so-called Zanzibar swords, which actually it seems, derived from Morocco, and such diffusion occurred via these same type networks, in this case trans-Saharan. Luc, also very well placed observations, and thank you for including the references! The weapons of Africa are intriguing and almost always a puzzle, and this kind of discussion really helps .The references help us keep our bearings in ongoing research, so we dont retravel the same roads.Thank you! All the best, Jim