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Ethnic Items

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19th Century Islamic Indo-Persian Mughal Native Warrior’s Brass Dhal Fighting Shield. Sn 21449:11 - 21449:11
The Dhal is a type of shield found in the Indian subcontinent ( see page 206 of Stone’s book ‘A Glossary Of Arms & Armor’). Dhal shields are nearly always geometrically round and they vary in diameter from about eight inches to twenty-four inches. Some are nearly flat while others are strongly curved. This is an excellent curved Dhal. Our brass Dhal is 19” diameter with correct rolled edges. The curved Dhal has 4 central bosses for striking opponents and deflecting blows. The front of the shield is decorated throughout with Religious figures Godess Sarasvati, Lord Shiva and Rampant lions on a foliate field. The inside of the Dhal has 4 iron hanging rings for grip chains and has a central cloth pad. The shield has no dents. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 21449:11 (shelves storeroom near bells)
£395.00

Early 20th Century African ‘Azande Sickle Sword’ from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 21101. - 21101
The Azande are an ethnic group in Central Africa speaking the Zande languages (whose classification is uncertain). They live in the south-eastern part of the Central African Republic, the north-eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the south-central and south-western parts of South Sudan. The Azande were believed to be formed by a military conquest during the first half of the 18th century. They were led by two dynasties that differed in origin and political strategy. The Azande are mainly small-scale farmers. Crops include maize, rice, groundnuts (also known as peanuts), sesame, cassava and sweet potatoes. Fruits grown in the area include mangos, oranges, bananas, pineapples, and also sugar cane. Zandeland is also full of palm oil and sesame. This sword measures 45 cm overall and has a cylindrical pommel and grip bound with metal bands. The sickle shaped blade has two pierced holes and measures 24 cm. The sickle sword would have been used for agricultural purposes/animal culling and combat. See page 82 Figure 102 of ‘A Glossary of Arms and Armour’ by George Cameron Stone for similar. The price for this interesting piece includes UK delivery. 21101. (Bottom shelf right hand side)
£275.00

Central African Kondo/Ikakalaka Sword with Hide Sheath. 21093. - 21093
The African Konda sword is one of the most fearsome-looking swords in the world. This terrifying-looking blade was created in the 19th century and is often called the Ikakalaka. It has become a staple of popular culture in the 21st century thanks to its blade design and shape. Although it may look ceremonial, the Konda could effectively cut, slash, and thrust. Hourglass handle. The Konda or Ikakalaka African sword is made of iron and steel and has a straight, double-edged blade. The style of this type of sword was fairly common in the African art of swords, designed to distinguish itself and be a prestige sword. Konda or Ikakalaka swords are primarily made to be one-handed weapons, which explains the small hourglass-shaped handle. The handle acts as a form of protection for the user’s hand while allowing a firm grip when held. Whether Western, Central African, or as far away as the Indonesian islands, swords made with intricate details were one of the best ceremonial and prestigious tools to own. That is why the Konda was one of the most popular emblems of leadership commonly seen on many tribal chiefs throughout the Konda peoples of Congo In Congo, even in the early 20th century, a lot of trade was going on without the use of coins or modern currency. A very high item of value that could buy many things was made out of metal, which made the Konda a prized possession used in trade. Some highly religious and ceremonial acts that used the Konda sword throughout Africa were sacrificial, and others included bringing a better harvest or hunt. At times they were used as a method of punishment for a criminal or a wrong-doer. Some African swords, like the Ngombe and Konda, were excellent decapitating tools, making them a popular executioner’s sword. Despite being linked to nobility and high-ranking members of Congo, the Konda was a useful tool in battle. Its double-edge blade was effective for slashing and piercing through flesh. Blade length; 36 ½ cm with the tang running through the hardwood hourglass shaped handle, overall length; 54 cm. The blade is; 8 ¼ cm at its widest and 5 ¼ cm at its narrowest point. The blade is dressed with tribal/ceremonial markings engraved into the metalwork. The sheath is made from wood and covered in animal hide with decorative stitching running throughout, and two large wicker bound handles either side. The Konda sword is now among the most well-known blade in popular culture, rivaling the Japanese Katana. The price for this impressive piece includes UK delivery. 21093. (Bottom shelf right hand side)
£245.00

Victorian Hand Crafted African Zulu Warrior’s Large Tropical Hard Wood Knobkerrie / War Club Formed From The Heart Wood (Strongest Part) Of The Tree With Iron Wire Binding. Sn 15012 - 15012
A Circa 19th Century Zulu Warrior’s large knobkerrie. Knobkerrie, also spelled knopkierie or knobkerry, are clubs used mainly in Southern and Eastern Africa. Typically they have a large knob at one end and can be used for throwing at animals in hunting or for clubbing an enemy's head. This knobkierie is hand crafted from the ‘heart wood’ (strongest part of the tree) of a tropical hard wood tree to form the knob and crafted to create the shaft. The club measures 29” in length. The bulbous ‘hammer’ head is 3” diameter & would create devastating injuries if used as a weapon. The well-defined heart wood can clearly be seen in image 2. The hammer head and shaft have stable surface cracks, knocks and bumps to be expected with age. The shaft has a 2 ½” section of original iron wire binding at the top end where it meets the hammer head. The price for this knobkerrie includes delivery. Sn 15012
£275.00

19th Century Set Of 13 Native African Iron Head, Bamboo Shaft Hunting Arrows In Hand Tooled Leather Covered Wood Quiver Bucket With Removable Cap. W 672 - W 672
An original set of 19th Century hunting arrows in their original period Quiver. The set consists of 13 iron headed arrows all with bamboo shafts each with hand notched end for bow string. 12 of the arrows have leaf shaped iron blades with barbs & steel tangs cut and bound into their bamboo shafts. One arrow head is chisel shaped with tang cut and bound into its bamboo shaft. The iron of each arrow head has even patina of aged iron. Similar Native African arrow heads are illustrated on page 74 of Stone’s book ‘A Glossary Of The Construction Decoration & Use Of Arms & Armour. The arrows are contained in their original period wood covered leather quiver bucket. The leather has panels of finely hand tooled geometric decoration. The leather is clean & intact with no tears or damage and has remnants of 2 cloth shoulder straps attached. The quiver has its original, removable hard leather dome shaped cap / cover. The leather of the cap is clean & undamaged but one of the stitched seams has become open at some point in its life (this could easily be repaired by a saddler or other leather worker). A similar quiver bucket without cap described as Central African is illustrated on page 521 item 14 of Stone’s book. The price includes UK delivery. W 672
£375.00

Early 20th Century Hand Crafted Tribal Tourist Piece Zulu Warrior’s Ingubha (Cow Hide) Umbumbuluzo Small War Shield With Removable Staff, Assegai Stabbing Spear & Knobkerry War Club Also Additional Assegai & Knobkerrie With Decorative Bead Work - 17840:1
A cow-hide shield is known as ingubha in Zulu. Large (ihubelo) War shields measured between 5 and 6 Feet & were made of raw cattle hide. The umbumbuluzo was a smaller war shield up to 3½ feet in length. War shields, which were more than mere commodities for physical protection also acted as status symbols or Coat of Arms for a family or tribe. This is an early 20th century Zulu umbumbuluzo Ingubha small war shield, hand made in Africa by tribal blacksmiths for the European tourist trade who were then still fascinated by the Zulu wars of the 1870’s. The typical form Cow Hide shield measures 35” length x 18” width. The centre length of the shield has inserted sections of hide to create strength and originally to identify a family or tribe. The rear has leather cord which holds its turned wood staff / shaft which originally acted both as a staff for foraging and fighting and when inserted, as a handle for the shield. The staff measures 4 Feet 7 Inches length. The top of the staff has a cow hide with fur totem. The knobkerrie attached to the shield by leather ties is 36” length with typical bulbous head. The Assegai attached to the shield by leather ties measures 37” length. It has a section of stitched cow hide with fur beneath the 6 ½” typical form leaf shaped iron blade. The blade has staining and light areas of surface rust to be expected. The assegai shaft and staff have cut sections in their centres to allow them to fit neatly together for display. The separate Assegai measures 39” overall length. The stained wood shaft has a section of colourful Native handcrafted beadwork and a section of stitched cow hide with fur beneath its 8” crudely hand forged blackened iron leaf shaped blade which is sharp. The separate knobkerrie measures 32” overall length with typical bulbous head. The stained wood shaft has a section of colourful Native handcrafted beadwork and 2 sections of stitched cow hide. Included is a small 3” bracket for wall hanging which came with display and 2 small screws which fit 2 pre-drilled holes in the top section of the shield’s staff. The price for this piece which would make a great addition to any ethnic or Zulu war collection includes UK delivery. Sn 17840:1
£475.00

19th Century Native Indian Fighting Spear With Iron Weighted Ball Armour Piercing Pyramid Spike Tip & Bamboo Shaft. Sn 15399 - 15399
This is a very good Indian Fighting spear made some time in the 19th century. It measures 48 ½” overall length. It has a Bamboo shaft with spiked spear head which has an armour piercing pyramid shaped tip. The cast spear head consists of an 8 ½” length spike on top of a heavy 2” diameter fluted ball to add weight to the spear thrust during combat and multi facet hollow shaft which is wire and leather bound to the bamboo haft. The spear head measures 19 ¼” overall to the bottom of the binding. The metal has even patina. The base of the Bamboo haft is bound with cord. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 15399
£195.00

19th Century Authentic Large Fighting Knife / Axe of the Mangbetu Tribe of Central Africa with Ivory Grip. Sn 14318 - 14318
A 19th Century authentic original fighting knife / axe of the Mangbetu people residing in Central Africa. The Mangbetu stood out to European explorers because of their elongated heads. Traditionally, babies' heads were wrapped tightly with cloth in order to give them this distinctive appearance. The practice, called Lipombo, began dying out in the 1950s with the arrival of more Europeans and westernisation. The Mangbetu are known for their highly developed art and music. One instrument associated with and named after them is the Mangbetu harp or guitar. Many recent studies feature the Mangbetu as a historically cannibalistic people. According to Mangbetu men interviewed in the documentary Spirits of Defiance: The Mangbetu People of Zaire it appears that many Mangbetu currently believe their ancestors to have practiced cannibalism. The knife was originally used as a weapon of war and also as an agricultural implement, but later on developed into a luxury item and a symbol of status and authority. This one is a 19th century one with a large sickle shaped blade. It measures 10 1/2" (point to point diagonally) and 15 1/4" overall from top to bottom. It is very nicely forged. The original blackening of the steel with the polished edges is maintained. There are three holes in the blade. It has a one piece ivory grip with very good yellowish age patina. The grip is secure. Sn 14318
£475.00

Early 1900's African Masai Lion Spear With Long 54cm Leaf Shaped Blade With Raised Medial Ridge , Short Central Haft And Spike Butt. Sn 13653 - 13653
Early 1900's African Masai Lion stabbing spear with 54cm long steel leaf shaped blade (73" overall length) weighing 1.9 kg. A spear is a pole weapon used for stabbing with iron or fire-hardened tip. The use of various types of the spear was widespread all over Africa and it was the most common weapon used before the introduction of firearms. The Zulu and other Nguni tribes of South Africa were renowned for their use of the spear. The spear was not only the most commonest weapon in Africa but was also used as a form of currency, tribes smelting iron spear heads traded the spear heads to their less skilful neighbours. This weapon has a 54 mm (21 1/4") long blade with a medial ridge along it's length, it is 33" including the socket for the haft. It has a short central 6" visible haft and a further iron 33" stabbing pike butt. The iron blade and spike are 'forced fit' onto the haft. The haft is plain hard wood and has been hand worked with a linear pattern. This is a very nice example. (See 'A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armour in all Countries and in All Times' book by George Cameron Stone, Pages 572-573). The price includes UK delivery. Sn 13653
£275.00

Early 1900's African Masai Lion Spear With Long 78mm Blade With Raised Medial Ridge , Short Central Haft And Spike Butt. Sn 13652 - 13652
Early 1900's African Masai Lion stabbing spear with 78mm long steel blade (74" overall length) weighing 1.7 kg. A spear is a pole weapon used for stabbing with iron or fire-hardened tip. The use of various types of the spear was widespread all over Africa and it was the most common weapon used before the introduction of firearms. The Zulu and other Nguni tribes of South Africa were renowned for their use of the spear. The spear was not only the most commonest weapon in Africa but was also used as a form of currency, tribes smelting iron spear heads traded the spear heads to their less skilful neighbours. This weapon has a 78 cm (30 3/4") long blade with a medial ridge along it's length, it is 37" including the socket for the haft. It has a short central 7" visible haft and a further iron 30" stabbing pike butt. The iron blade and spike are 'forced fit' onto the haft. The haft is plain hard wood. This is a very nice example. (See 'A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armour in all Countries and in All Times' book by George Cameron Stone, Pages 572-573). The price includes UK delivery. Sn 13652
£275.00
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