Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Miscellania

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 19th May 2020, 01:29 PM   #1
Gregory128
Member
 
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 5
Default Unusual Money Polearm

Hi all,
Can I introduce myself as Greg and say thanks to the admins for allowing me to join this forum. I have recently purchased this unusual item and need help with its identification. I have had several conflicting suggestions, so any hard evidence to back up your theories would be extremely helpful.

The item I would like to present, is a very unusual money stick/polearm. The coins and tokens stuck to the haft can be dated to the second half of the 19th Century. They are an eclectic mix of coins from different nationalities so they aren't much help in narrowing this items location. I believe the item may be African in origin, but I concede its merely a gut feeling. The wooden pole is protected by a tin or copper outer covering, on which one will find a number of coins/tokens and buckler shaped pieces attached. The wood is not ebony but is white. I'm not sure if this its natural colour or if its been treated. Overall, the item measures around 5ft 6inches. The head is blunt and looks like it was only created for ceremonial use, nevertheless it has a unusual design.

Other then the above, I'm lost to its purpose or origin.
Looking forward to hearing your suggestions,
Kind Regards,
Gregory.
Attached Images
          
Gregory128 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19th May 2020, 07:41 PM   #2
Rick
Vikingsword Staff
 
Rick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,258
Smile

Bump.
Rick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19th May 2020, 11:26 PM   #3
Lee
EAAF Staff
 
Lee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Upstate New York, USA
Posts: 884
Default

I wonder if this is a Venetian boat hook (for retrieving a moored boat from beyond natural arm's reach) that has the added blades to perhaps serve also as a repellent for unwanted visitors. I have an old Venetian boat puller pole with similar coins and tacks and I have also seen a newer example of the same.
Lee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19th May 2020, 11:38 PM   #4
Will M
Member
 
Will M's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: In the wee woods north of Napanee Ontario
Posts: 386
Default

The one coin looks like an East India Company penny.
Will M is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th May 2020, 01:44 AM   #5
Rick
Vikingsword Staff
 
Rick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,258
Smile

I think you nailed it Lee.
https://www.invaluable.com/auction-l...6-c-a9acfee14f
Rick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th May 2020, 11:22 AM   #6
fernando
Lead Moderator European Armoury
 
fernando's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,620
Default

Brilliant; a gondola "croque". I would never guess .
fernando is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th May 2020, 12:58 PM   #7
Lee
EAAF Staff
 
Lee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Upstate New York, USA
Posts: 884
Default

I saw a 'degenerate' version with a typical modern cast chrome plated hook, red fabric covering and rather unattractive modern aluminum coins for sale in Venice in the 1980s. This prepared me when I saw a 19th century version (picture below) for sale as an unknown "what-is-it?" in an antique shop in Copenhagen years later (for a much cheaper price). I had not seen one with the blades added to the head before and Gregory128's example is clearly the best example I have encountered to date.
Attached Images
 
Lee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st May 2020, 04:19 AM   #8
M ELEY
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NC, U.S.A.
Posts: 2,066
Default

I have seen gaffing hooks with a sharp "marlin' spike to them, but never a blade! Pretty cool! The pattern resembles a lochober axe! I like it very much!
M ELEY is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22nd May 2020, 02:40 AM   #9
Gregory128
Member
 
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 5
Default

Thanks for the help guys. Very unusual. I would never have guessed its a 19th century Venetian boat hook? Surprising!
Gregory128 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22nd May 2020, 12:43 PM   #10
Lee
EAAF Staff
 
Lee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Upstate New York, USA
Posts: 884
Default

These are described as 'gondola hooks' in The Upper Ten: A Novel of the Snobocracy by William Hosea Ballou (1890), p. 75, courtesy of Google Books.
Attached Images
 
Lee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22nd May 2020, 01:47 PM   #11
corrado26
Member
 
corrado26's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Black Forest, Germany
Posts: 1,164
Default

One of the medals/coins shows the portrait of pope Pius IX (PONT MAX) 1846-1878, so this piece cannot have been in use before 1846.
corrado26 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 07:31 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.