ASHANTI SLAVER’S SPEAR

Late 19th century. 52 1/8" length. Wood haft encased in alternate segments of leather with fine split cane weave decoration and hide, completely intact. Forged iron head with a conical socket and iron grounding spike opposite. The socket of the head and the base of the grounding spike are both encased in extensions of the leather wrap as made. The point preserved in pitch, probably by missionaries who collected it. Exceptional throughout for the period and probably collected early by missionaries. The Ashanti were active in the transatlantic slave trade which continued through the century supplying slaves for South American plantations.