Massai/african wooden lance or oceanian ?

Marius66 · 27th August 2023, 09:29 AM

Good day dear members,

I have this long wooden lance,
coming from africa , massai/Kenya and really really old said the seller
But I saw this weekend in an ethnographic museum oceanian ''clubs'' and maybe it is polynesian/oceanian..

Can specialists help for fix it please.

Kind regards

mariusgmioc · 27th August 2023, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marius66

Good day dear members,

I have this long wooden lance,
coming from africa , massai/Kenya and really really old said the seller
But I saw this weekend in an ethnographic museum oceanian ''clubs'' and maybe it is polynesian/oceanian..

Can specialists help for fix it please.

Kind regards

I do not know what this is but I am pretty sure that it isn't a Masai spear. Masai use various types of iron-tipped spears.

Tim Simmons · 27th August 2023, 01:29 PM

I have a feeling it is an African paddle.

drac2k · 27th August 2023, 03:03 PM

Great piece whatever it is ;maybe a dance spear used it ritual ceremonies. I like the carving, the patination and everything else about it! What are the dimensions??

Marius66 · 27th August 2023, 03:41 PM

Hello , thank a lot everybody for the reply !
Looks a mix between a Solomon club
and a iron Congolese mariage-trade money ??

It is 65,8 inches/167 cm long

Ceremonial item more than an original paddle
I wonder if we could use it as a
war club ?

Kind regards

milandro · 27th August 2023, 04:47 PM

I too doubt this is a spear, ritual or otherwise.

This looks like a canoe paddle. Where it was made is a very difficult to say, I have seen some similar design which were Brazilian but also from Kalimantan so the range of possibilities is very wide, but , in my view, absolutely not a spear

drac2k · 27th August 2023, 06:36 PM

Has the tip been reshaped? The only reason why I question the paddle theory is because of the narrowness of the majority of the portion that would be in the water; not viable for the maximum push of your paddle. Also, the length of the paddle seems excessive as well as the girth of the shaft; while I've seen paddles that long, usually the shafts are tapered and narrower, to cut down on the weight. The point at the end of the oar doesn't quite make sense to me either.

Akanthus · 28th August 2023, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

I do not know what this is but I am pretty sure that it isn't a Masai spear. Masai use various types of iron-tipped spears.

Yes, right. I don't want to hunt lions with this wood thing.....

Marius66 · 28th August 2023, 09:00 PM

And back in Africa...

A ceremonial wooden spear from Congo ( democratic republic of Congo )
All wood made , tip only is made of metal

drac2k · 29th August 2023, 02:48 AM

Could it be like this spear, only missing the metal tip?

Marius66 · 29th August 2023, 07:09 AM

Hello,
Thank you Drac2,
I don't think it was metal covered , seems too flat, not a '' real spike''.
But dimensions and global shape are the same

27th August 2023, 09:29 AM	#1
Marius66 Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Posts: 76	Massai/african wooden lance or oceanian ? Good day dear members, I have this long wooden lance, coming from africa , massai/Kenya and really really old said the seller But I saw this weekend in an ethnographic museum oceanian ''clubs'' and maybe it is polynesian/oceanian.. Can specialists help for fix it please. Kind regards Attached Images

28th August 2023, 09:00 PM	#9
Marius66 Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Posts: 76	And back in Africa... A ceremonial wooden spear from Congo ( democratic republic of Congo ) All wood made , tip only is made of metal Attached Images

27th August 2023, 01:29 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,741	I have a feeling it is an African paddle.

27th August 2023, 03:03 PM	#4
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,184	Great piece whatever it is ;maybe a dance spear used it ritual ceremonies. I like the carving, the patination and everything else about it! What are the dimensions??

27th August 2023, 03:41 PM	#5
Marius66 Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Posts: 76	Hello , thank a lot everybody for the reply ! Looks a mix between a Solomon club and a iron Congolese mariage-trade money ?? It is 65,8 inches/167 cm long Ceremonial item more than an original paddle I wonder if we could use it as a war club ? Kind regards

27th August 2023, 04:47 PM	#6
milandro Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Netherlands Posts: 419	I too doubt this is a spear, ritual or otherwise. This looks like a canoe paddle. Where it was made is a very difficult to say, I have seen some similar design which were Brazilian but also from Kalimantan so the range of possibilities is very wide, but , in my view, absolutely not a spear

27th August 2023, 06:36 PM	#7
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,184	Has the tip been reshaped? The only reason why I question the paddle theory is because of the narrowness of the majority of the portion that would be in the water; not viable for the maximum push of your paddle. Also, the length of the paddle seems excessive as well as the girth of the shaft; while I've seen paddles that long, usually the shafts are tapered and narrower, to cut down on the weight. The point at the end of the oar doesn't quite make sense to me either.

29th August 2023, 02:48 AM	#10
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,184	Could it be like this spear, only missing the metal tip?

29th August 2023, 07:09 AM	#11
Marius66 Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Posts: 76	Hello, Thank you Drac2, I don't think it was metal covered , seems too flat, not a '' real spike''. But dimensions and global shape are the same