A Zulu iklwa

Spearhead length: 29.5cm
Overall length: 78.5cm
Probably early 20th century
 
A nice example of a Zulu iklwa or short stabbing spear. Allegedly, smaller spearheads such as on this example were used to make spears for warriors who couldn't afford the larger, broader blades. The blade is however, well-forged and the wrap at the shoulder is neatly woven from palm fibre.
 
The shaft is particularly attractive with an elegant flare towards the butt-end to ensure a firm grip in battle. The wood has a lovely fiddleback figure or "chatoyance", which suggests that it might be Coast Red Milkwood (Mimusops caffra). This was traditionally considered to be a royal timber tree among the Zulu and used for making fish traps, hut frameworks, and knobkerrie clubs amongst other things.
 
The overall quality of the work makes it clear that this is definitely not one of the cheap tourist pieces one often comes across. The palm fibre wrap is still tight and intact and at one point was covered with black shoe polish, which is a traditional way of weatherproofing wooden items in South Africa.