ceremonial mace/spear or something ?

francantolin · 23rd February 2021, 05:42 PM

Hello,

what do you think of this item ?

I hesitate between a ceremonial mace,
with asian origin or celtic ( maybe a triskell on the iron ''spear'' head...)...

or just a curtain rod

M ELEY · 24th February 2021, 04:41 PM

Looks Japanese to me. I've seen that design before (the triangle and also the point resembling something I've seen on Samurai helmet?) Pot metal? Late Meiji period, but what is it? A symbolic staff?

francantolin · 24th February 2021, 06:23 PM

Hello and thank you M Eley,

I totally agree,
the iron ''spear'' head made me think of a japanese yari shape

but here it's too large and made of iron
( not that bad, seems forged, not cast )

Maybe a japanese helmet reproduction piece as you say fixed on an european stock ?

Maybe a ceremonial family crest representation / symbolic meeting piece
maybe added with a flag...
( the wooden hilt looks all european to me... )

M ELEY · 24th February 2021, 09:28 PM

Sorry! Didn't mean pot metal but cast iron, hence the later date. If it's forged, though, it must have some official use. I like it...whatever it is!

kronckew · 24th February 2021, 11:05 PM

reminds me strongly of a wrought iron fence finial, some of which look b=very weapony. Saw some that even looked like halberd heads.

francantolin · 11th March 2021, 08:58 PM

Hello,

I have a clue looking for japanese items:
maybe a buddhist monk staff ( but without the circles... ? ;( )
or the lance-staff of a statue of Bishamonten ( mid size )
with his yari-trident / jumonji spear

francantolin · 11th March 2021, 08:59 PM

pics

francantolin · 11th March 2021, 09:02 PM

I disassemble it,
and clean a little the iron parts, ( 16 cm long )
seems well made and not cast

M ELEY · 12th March 2021, 04:41 AM

Wow! What a difference that picture makes! You are right, much better quality and you might be right that it could be from a temple statue or some such. Hard to date, because much of what was coming out in the late Meiji period was amazing stuff, even though for export. I used to have two Japanese temple lanterns made into lamps in the '30's (when Art Deco meant 'destroy all old things!

) that had similar decorations. Too bad I no longer have the items or pics...

23rd February 2021, 05:42 PM	#1
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 924	ceremonial mace/spear or something ? Hello, what do you think of this item ? I hesitate between a ceremonial mace, with asian origin or celtic ( maybe a triskell on the iron ''spear'' head...)... or just a curtain rod Attached Images

11th March 2021, 08:59 PM	#7
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 924	pics Attached Images

11th March 2021, 09:02 PM	#8
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 924	I disassemble it, and clean a little the iron parts, ( 16 cm long ) seems well made and not cast Attached Images

24th February 2021, 04:41 PM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,206	Looks Japanese to me. I've seen that design before (the triangle and also the point resembling something I've seen on Samurai helmet?) Pot metal? Late Meiji period, but what is it? A symbolic staff?

24th February 2021, 06:23 PM	#3
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 924	Hello and thank you M Eley, I totally agree, the iron ''spear'' head made me think of a japanese yari shape but here it's too large and made of iron ( not that bad, seems forged, not cast ) Maybe a japanese helmet reproduction piece as you say fixed on an european stock ? Maybe a ceremonial family crest representation / symbolic meeting piece maybe added with a flag... ( the wooden hilt looks all european to me... )

24th February 2021, 09:28 PM	#4
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,206	Sorry! Didn't mean pot metal but cast iron, hence the later date. If it's forged, though, it must have some official use. I like it...whatever it is!

24th February 2021, 11:05 PM	#5
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,259	reminds me strongly of a wrought iron fence finial, some of which look b=very weapony. Saw some that even looked like halberd heads.

11th March 2021, 08:58 PM	#6
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 924	Hello, I have a clue looking for japanese items: maybe a buddhist monk staff ( but without the circles... ? ;( ) or the lance-staff of a statue of Bishamonten ( mid size ) with his yari-trident / jumonji spear

12th March 2021, 04:41 AM	#9
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,206	Wow! What a difference that picture makes! You are right, much better quality and you might be right that it could be from a temple statue or some such. Hard to date, because much of what was coming out in the late Meiji period was amazing stuff, even though for export. I used to have two Japanese temple lanterns made into lamps in the '30's (when Art Deco meant 'destroy all old things! ) that had similar decorations. Too bad I no longer have the items or pics...