1879 Handcarved knobkerrie--Private W. LOTT, 90th Light Infantry

Posts : 271 Join date : 2010-08-13

The most intricately carved Zulu War knobkerrie I have ever seen that belonged to Private W. Lott, 90th Light Infantry---the craftsmanship involved is amazing and this is truly a piece worthy of display in a museum.

Handcarved into the knobkerrie along with fine crosshatching, Zulu shields, assegais are the following: (See photographs)

1879 ZULULAND
W. LOTT, XC L.I.
SOUTH AFRICA
BATTLES:
ZUNGUIN NECK--24th JAN.
KAMBULA--29th MARCH
ULUNDI--4th JULY

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(Isandula Collection)

Subject: Private W. Lott 90th Regt Thu Apr 18, 2013 5:35 am

Hi Isandula .
Outstanding ! . Thanks for sharing . Salute

90th

Yes, thanks for that, really, really interesting I love it - I like items that can be traced to an actual person, such as medals, and i really like this. I would pay hard earned filthy lucre for this!
I am guessing this would have been carved by / for Lott, after he brought it back from the campaign as a souvenir. Salute

Posts : 271 Join date : 2010-08-13

Tasker--just don't know if this was carved by or for Private Lott, nor whether in Zululand or back in England. I once owned (since traded) another nice knobbie carved to an officer of the 90th and know of one to still another 90th officer. As Lott was an old hand, Regimental Number #99, I always imagined he carved this one for himself, the officers saw it, and gave him light duty to carve one for each of them with their names, etc. Of course this is only my speculation. Still, hands down, this knobbie was the nicest of the three.

Subject: Handcarved Knobkerrie Pvt W.Lott Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:32 pm

Hi Isandula .
I have a carved Knobkerrie which was picked up at Ulundi by Lt Edward Blethian Herbert 17th Lancers , but nowhere as elaborately
carved as Lott's one . Salute

90th

Posts : 3203 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Hi All

A little information on Private W Lott, 90th.

All I can tell you is that his first name was William, He served for a total of 6 years and 21 days and was discharged on the 27th October 1879.

Salute

Isandula wrote:: Tasker--just don't know if this was carved by or for Private Lott, nor whether in Zululand or back in England. I once owned (since traded) another nice knobbie carved to an officer of the 90th and know of one to still another 90th officer. As Lott was an old hand, Regimental Number #99, I always imagined he carved this one for himself, the officers saw it, and gave him light duty to carve one for each of them with their names, etc. Of course this is only my speculation. Still, hands down, this knobbie was the nicest of the three.

I bet your theory is correct. Salute

Not unlikely that there is a diary and brief entry in it, somewhere, from one of those two 90th officers that would confirm this.

Posts : 271 Join date : 2010-08-13

90th--My idea is that a carved, named knobbie with provenance is worth 30 without. Well done!

Posts : 271 Join date : 2010-08-13

Tasker and 90th, By the way the other two 90th carved knobbies that I have seen were to Bt. Major J.H. Laye and Captain G.R. Heathcote.

» 90th Light Infantry, Zulu and Kaffir Wars
» W.Brandes 90th Light Infantry
» Colours of the 90th (Perthshire) Light Infantry.
» Memorial to men of the 90th (Perthshire) Light Infantry
» 90th (Perthshire) Light Infantry 1873