Acholi axe
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1966.1.273
Country:
Uganda? , Sudan?
Region:
[Southern Sudan?]
Cultural Group:
?Acholi
Date Made:
By 1st June 1912
Materials:
Iron Metal , Wood Plant , Animal Hide Skin
Process:
Forged (Metal) , Hammered , Socketed , Carved , Polished , Covered
Dimensions:
Total L = 635; blade L = 122, max W = 42, max th = 8.5; socket diam = 36.7; handle diam = 20.5 x 19.7, hide grip L = 75, diam = 21.5 mm [RTS 1/7/2005].
Weight:
487.2 g
Other Owners:
Part of the collection of Frederick John Jackson, then becoming part of the Ipswich Museum collections, before being sold to the PRM in 1966 [RTS 30/6/2005].
Field Collector:
?Frederick John Jackson
PRM Source:
Ipswich Museum per Patricia M. Butler
Acquired:
Purchased 1966
Collected Date:
1st June 1912?
Description:
Axe consisting of a narrow iron blade fitted onto a wooden handle.
The axehead has been made from a narrow piece of iron with rectangular section, split at one end to form a socket, with the blade tapering out slightly beyond to form a convex cutting edge that is bevelled on both sides.
The blade varies in thickness across its surface and is a metallic gray colour (Pantone 877C).
This has been fitted onto the top of a handle, carved from an orangey brown wood (Pantone 730C).
3 handmade iron nails with squares sections and slightly domed heads have been hammered into the centre of the handle top; a wooden wedge has been forced into a small gap between socket and handle at the top, and the end of another piece of iron, probably another nail, is visible below, all of which are presumably measures to keep the axehead firmly in position.
The handle surface has been smoothed and polished, and has a circular section and flat cut end.
At least 2 cylindrical hide sheaths have been fitted over the lower part of the handle to form a hand grip, one on top of the other; the upper sheath has been cut from a length of tail, and has no seam; it is a yellowish colour (Pantone 7509C) with traces of buff hair on the surface.
The object is nearly complete, but the surface of the handle has been damaged at the top, and several cracks have developed along its length.
There is also a small hole in the hide hand grip.
It has a weight of 487.2 grams, and a total length of 635 mm.
The blade is 122 mm long, with a width of 42 mm, thickness of 8.5 mm and socket diameter of 36.7 mm.
The handle has a diameter of 20.5 by 19.7 mm, while the outer hide grip is 75 mm long and measures 21.5 mm in diameter.
This axe was part of the collection of Frederick John Jackson, and was probably also collected by him while serving as Governor of Uganda. The exact place of collection was not recorded, but the cultural attribution suggests that it came from Northern Uganda or the Southern Sudan. It was acquired by the Ipswich Museum, and then sold on to the Pitt Rivers Museum in 1966.
For other Acholi axes, see 1966.1.272, from Panikware, and 1922.48.1; the latter is a more elaborate form that was used in dances.
Rachael Sparks 14/9/2005.
This axe was part of the collection of Frederick John Jackson, and was probably also collected by him while serving as Governor of Uganda. The exact place of collection was not recorded, but the cultural attribution suggests that it came from Northern Uganda or the Southern Sudan. It was acquired by the Ipswich Museum, and then sold on to the Pitt Rivers Museum in 1966.
For other Acholi axes, see 1966.1.272, from Panikware, and 1922.48.1; the latter is a more elaborate form that was used in dances.
Rachael Sparks 14/9/2005.
Primary Documentation:
Accession Book Entry [XX]
[facing p.
1] - Collection 1966.1 is Ipswich ethnography; see special volumes XVA and XVB [JC 27/6/2001].
Accession Book Entry [Ipswich ethnography XVA] [p. 2] 1966.1[1-] P[urchased] Ethnological Collection; IPSWICH MUSEUM per Miss PATRICIA M. BUTLER, M.A. F.M.A. Curator. [p. 79] 1966.1.273 E. AFRICA, possibly UGANDA, ACHOLI TRIBE. Axe with socketed iron head. The iron [p. 80] axe head is thicker and shorter than 1966.1.272 and there is no backward extension of the head behind the socket. The wooden handle has a grip covered with hide which still retains some hair. Three nails have been hammered into the top of the handle and may have been intended to act as a wedge. Sir Frederick Jackson Collection. Overall length 63 cm. Blade [length] 12 cm. Maximum blade width [measurement omitted].
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 30/1/2004].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - East AFRICA, Uganda? ACHOLI tribe? Axe with iron head. Coll. F. J. Jackson? Purch. Ipswich Museum. 1966.1.273 [plastic coated label, tied to object; RTS 1/7/2005].
Related Documents File - This item appears on a list headed 'Ethnography speciments transferred from the Ipswich Museum to the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford 1965', as '[1 of] two axes, B.E. Africa', but the original Ipswich accession number is not given [RTS 14/1/2004].
Accession Book Entry [Ipswich ethnography XVA] [p. 2] 1966.1[1-] P[urchased] Ethnological Collection; IPSWICH MUSEUM per Miss PATRICIA M. BUTLER, M.A. F.M.A. Curator. [p. 79] 1966.1.273 E. AFRICA, possibly UGANDA, ACHOLI TRIBE. Axe with socketed iron head. The iron [p. 80] axe head is thicker and shorter than 1966.1.272 and there is no backward extension of the head behind the socket. The wooden handle has a grip covered with hide which still retains some hair. Three nails have been hammered into the top of the handle and may have been intended to act as a wedge. Sir Frederick Jackson Collection. Overall length 63 cm. Blade [length] 12 cm. Maximum blade width [measurement omitted].
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the catalogue card [RTS 30/1/2004].
Pitt Rivers Museum label - East AFRICA, Uganda? ACHOLI tribe? Axe with iron head. Coll. F. J. Jackson? Purch. Ipswich Museum. 1966.1.273 [plastic coated label, tied to object; RTS 1/7/2005].
Related Documents File - This item appears on a list headed 'Ethnography speciments transferred from the Ipswich Museum to the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford 1965', as '[1 of] two axes, B.E. Africa', but the original Ipswich accession number is not given [RTS 14/1/2004].
