Eastern Africa, Kenya or Tanzania, Maasai peoples, ca. mid-20th century CE. A lovely spear of slender form comprised of a lengthy wooden pole topped with a steel spear head. The spear head bears an elongated petaloid blade with sharpened edges and a gentle midrib, a squat coil of copper wire wrapped around the midsection, and a gently expanding socketing shaft with a vertical seam along one side. Spears like this example were a Maasai warrior's most prized possession and were used to defend the community as well as herds of livestock against predators. Size (spear): 54.25" L (137.8 cm); (blade): 16.8" L x 1.5" W (42.7 cm x 3.8 cm)

Provenance: private Englewood, Colorado, USA collection

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#166148

Spear head and wooden pole are perhaps not original to one another as indicated by wear patterns on wood pole beneath socketing shaft. Spear head is removable from tip of wooden pole. Damage to midsection of pole with some jagged sections. Minor abrasions and oxidation to spear head and socketing shaft, with small indentation to blade tip. Nice patina throughout.