Auctions

Here are a few eBay auctions I watched (and unsuccessfully bid on) this weekend. I was outbid on each of them. I did pick up an old, used Papuan cooking utensil made with a coconut shell. I will describe that within the next few weeks.

A Kikuyu spear collected by Quaker missionaries in the 1920s. In perfect condition with a light-colored wood shaft. Sold for about $120.

A massive spear from the Sudan. In very good condition, including brass wire wrap near butt. Shaft is a little warped near butt. Sold for about $150. Shipping would have been prohibitively expensive.

A nice Ngbandi spear from the northern Congo. In excellent condition, with a nice blade and plenty of wire wrapping. I purchased a similar item from the same seller. The one I purchased (and thus, was able to afford) is missing a section of the butt. This complete spear sold for $78, which is not much more than I paid for mine.

A large Zulu assegai or iklwa from South Africa. Point is bound with leather. Appears complete. Sold for $175.

A Yakoma spear from the Congo. An interesting, very light-weight status symbol-type spear. Sold for $121.

A Ngbandi spear head. A strange, thin point with strong barbs; probably part of a status symbol-type spear like #5. It would have made a deadly thrown spear, however. Sold for about $50.

A Somali spear head. Small and light, with a decorative element at base of blade. Similar to the point i described here. Sold for $39.

A spear head from the Congo. Rather crudely made, with a very large barb. A functional hunting weapon. Sold for $40.

An interesting spear head from Uganda. Solidly built and finely made, with two fullers like the Ethiopian points I described here and here. Sold for $40.

A Mossi spear head from Burkina Faso, West Africa. Nicely made for a West African piece, with a long shank and a narrow, willow-leaf shaped blade. Sold for $43.

An arrow point from the Congo. Appears quite old, and is nicely decorated with filed and chiseled elements. 5" overall. Crisp, symmetrical form. Recalls some of the points from the northern Philippines. Has an excellent patina. Sold for a pretty ridiculous $100, at least 2 or 3 times what it's actually worth.

A harpoon point from the Congo. A very graceful, delicate form with very strong barbs. Of a different form than the Congolese harpoon I have in my collection. Retains some of the vegetable fiber cord. Sold for $82.

A very nice Malagasy spear head and butt. Shape of point recalls shape of Sudanese spear (#2). A solid, functional piece with decorative brass inserts.

Kind of a discouraging lot of auctions, but maybe I'll have better luck next time. I would rather be surprised with a good deal on a good piece than have to pay what an item is actually worth (or more than it's worth.)

A javelin or spear point from Sudan, Africa

This is an interesting item. Not sure how to classify it - it's midway between a spear and javelin point. I know it doesn't really matter how an object is classified - ultimately, they're all projectile points. It would be at the heavy end of the spectrum for a thrown spear. At the same time, the numerous barbs would render the point pretty useless for hand to hand combat. The rows of barbs might suggest use as a fish spear, but the wide cutting blade is unnecessary for that purpose.

This is not a well-made piece. The socket is rough. The blade is simply flattened out and formed into a lanceolate shape with no indication of a midrib or lens-shaped cross-section. Although long, the barbs are pretty ragged and more excess material could have been removed. Still, I am reluctant to conclude that this is a tourist piece. There's a uniform coating of rust (which could have been artificially added, of course). Combined with a balanced bamboo shaft, this would have been an effective weapon against opponents or for medium-sized game. Decoration consists of a series of chiseled crosshatching and rudimentary reverse barbs at the base of the shank.

Length (overall): About 13 3/4".

Length (blade/point): A bit over 3".

Length (other dimensions): Socket is 3". Shank is about 7". Barbs are about 1/2".

Width at widest point (blade/point): About 1 1/4".

Width (other dimensions): Shank is about 1/2" by 1/2".

Materials: A solid piece of steel. Entire object is covered with a uniform coating of discoloration (not necessarily rust, but a dark, powdery brown patina). Appears to have been made from a narrow bar of iron, hammered flat at one end for a socket and flattened at the other for a blade. Barbs were lifted from the stock with a chisel. Shaft was probably pretty utilitarian. The ferrule or socket is on the small end with a 3/4" opening.

The strongly-barbed point resembles the fish spears widespread throughout the Sudan area, but especially associated with the Dinka. Many were brought back from the Madhist campaigns, but i suspect this one is later. Hope to put it on a cane shaft before too long.