ZULULAND/ULUNDI CARVED BAMBOO SWORD CANE

Posts : 264 Join date : 2010-08-13

No, this is not a tourist item!!! It is a 42" in length bamboo sword cane. It has a bone top handle carved in the form of a horse's head with mane Scrolling down the bamboo sheath are the following carved/etched words:
ZULULAND

BLOOD RIVER
INCENCI NEK
ITYOTYOZI
NEWDIGATE FORT
UPOKO
MATSANA FORT
UIALANANGO SPRUIT
AMLATOOSI
EVELYN FORT
JACKAL RIDGE
EMTONJANENI
VICTOTI FORT
WHITE UMVOLOSI

ULUNDI

4TH JULY
1879

There is no person's name on the cane to identify the owner or carver, but I think it is safe to believe that it belonged to a cavalryman possibly 17th Lancer or Dragoon as these sites on the route to Ulundi would be known to him. Also the bone horse head top would lend it to this thought. The sword itself outside the sheath is 32" in length.
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Posts : 2881 Join date : 2010-06-02

That is very nice and I agree it is not a tourist piece. But, I cannot really see the horses head - and if it is why have mane coming out of its mouth?

I just wonder if this is a zulu trophy piece - the bone head looks ethnic to me - taken by a cavalryman and inscribed in the way you say.

Steve Reinstadtler

Posts : 264 Join date : 2010-08-13

Whiskers on the horse's chin?

Subject: Zululand / Ulundi Carved Bamboo Sword Cane Thu Feb 01, 2018 7:17 am

Certainly not a Tourist piece , I've never seen this before , I wonder if the Hair pertains to a Mane and Tail ??? . Isandula it's certainly an interesting item , no denying that ! . Thanks for sharing , much appreciated .
90th Salute