MAASAI BATTLE SPEAR C.1900

70 ¼” length. Iron head with medially ridged leaf shaped point and long conical socket. Well forged iron base piece conical socket above a diamond section expansion and cylindrical lower with pyramidal tip. Both mounts remove for transport and shipping. Natural wood haft. The spear of the mature warrior. The more fashionable long bladed spears were carried by youths in training to protect cattle from lions. Killing a lion with one was a requirement for passage. Battle spears were used for cattle raiding and to protect from raiding intruders. Ex. Baptist Missionary Society Collection with old tag “S White Masai Elder Spear Tanzaniya” indicating that it had been loaned to the collection as was common.