Enggano spear / Ekajo

danny1976 · 27th February 2017, 10:24 PM

Hi Willem,

The point wiggles a lot .. just come over and see than you see what i mean

About cleaning the point , i do not want to over clean it but stabilizing the rust is necessary.

I did look for decoration on the shaft but didn't find it but maybe under the dirt but i leave that like it is.

Ps... check your mail .

greets

Rick · 27th February 2017, 10:54 PM

The dirt looks like deteriorating varnish or shellac applied by a past owner.

danny1976 · 28th February 2017, 07:36 PM

Hi Rick ,

I have to check what you are saying , but then only the upper part is in the lacquer .
It's only lets say on the 3th of the shaft , the upper part.
Any idea how i can check if it is some kind of finish ? Because when it is not i will regret the cleaning.

Albert · 28th February 2017, 08:28 PM

On the top right photo an Enggano spear with a similar small metal plate.

(Photo's page 105 of: Traditionele wapens van Enggano. Een verdwenen cultuur van de Indonesische archipel. [Traditional weapons of Enggano. A lost culture of the Indonsian archipelago])

BTW is is a pity that you decided not to sell this item

Rick · 28th February 2017, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danny1976

Hi Rick ,

I have to check what you are saying , but then only the upper part is in the lacquer .
It's only lets say on the 3th of the shaft , the upper part.
Any idea how i can check if it is some kind of finish ? Because when it is not i will regret the cleaning.

Maybe a bit of acetone applied in a small patch with a cotton swab somewhere unobtrusive would tell you something; although I would think a collector would have coated the entire haft with shellac/varnish.

Sajen · 28th February 2017, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

although I would think a collector would have coated the entire haft with shellac/varnish.

Hi Rick,

it will be "smoke" patina. Weapons of ethnic groups often keep their weapons in the "house"/hut near the open fire. One reason was that insects don't like smoked wood, an other that it's dry near the fire, think about the climate over there, so an iron weapon don't rust fast!

Regards,
Detlef

kai · 1st March 2017, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Maybe a bit of acetone applied in a small patch with a cotton swab somewhere unobtrusive would tell you something

Acetone will pretty much dissolve any residue regardless of origin - I won't go that route.

Detlef may be quite right that these are fat and smoke deposits from cooking.

Since this is a kinda "tribal" piece, I'd leave it as is.

Regards,
Kai

kai · 1st March 2017, 09:22 AM

Hello Danny,

Thanks for sharing this nice find!

It will be tough to stop the spear head from wiggling (anything done should be fully reversible if you want to follow museum standards). You could try to gently squeeze in some durable foam; however, the increased pressure (even if fairly light) on the braiding may result in cracking of the fibers and would be a shame...

BTW, any signs (hole, broken remnants) of small spikes inserted into the braided ferrule? Often at the base of the ferrule (opposite of the plate?) and/or integrated into the braiding.

Regards,
Kai

danny1976 · 6th March 2017, 10:27 AM

Hello Kai ,

I did check for small nails under and in the braided ferule , but no signs of such thing .
Maybe it is there but hided under the resin

Regards,
Danny

28th February 2017, 08:28 PM	#4
Albert Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 202	Nice! On the top right photo an Enggano spear with a similar small metal plate. (Photo's page 105 of: Traditionele wapens van Enggano. Een verdwenen cultuur van de Indonesische archipel. [Traditional weapons of Enggano. A lost culture of the Indonsian archipelago]) BTW is is a pity that you decided not to sell this item Attached Images

27th February 2017, 10:24 PM	#1
danny1976 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Holland Posts: 245	Hi Willem, The point wiggles a lot .. just come over and see than you see what i mean About cleaning the point , i do not want to over clean it but stabilizing the rust is necessary. I did look for decoration on the shaft but didn't find it but maybe under the dirt but i leave that like it is. Ps... check your mail . greets

27th February 2017, 10:54 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,347	The dirt looks like deteriorating varnish or shellac applied by a past owner.

28th February 2017, 07:36 PM	#3
danny1976 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Holland Posts: 245	Hi Rick , I have to check what you are saying , but then only the upper part is in the lacquer . It's only lets say on the 3th of the shaft , the upper part. Any idea how i can check if it is some kind of finish ? Because when it is not i will regret the cleaning.

1st March 2017, 09:22 AM	#8
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,255	Hello Danny, Thanks for sharing this nice find! It will be tough to stop the spear head from wiggling (anything done should be fully reversible if you want to follow museum standards). You could try to gently squeeze in some durable foam; however, the increased pressure (even if fairly light) on the braiding may result in cracking of the fibers and would be a shame... BTW, any signs (hole, broken remnants) of small spikes inserted into the braided ferrule? Often at the base of the ferrule (opposite of the plate?) and/or integrated into the braiding. Regards, Kai

6th March 2017, 10:27 AM	#9
danny1976 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Holland Posts: 245	Hello Kai , I did check for small nails under and in the braided ferule , but no signs of such thing . Maybe it is there but hided under the resin Regards, Danny