58 3/8” length with punched cabled decorated leaf shaped head and conical iron base piece (tip bent). Heavy wood haft with two bands of fine Ashanti split cane and leather weave, flanked by raw hide segments. Wear and shrinkage to the hide/leather but complete with great age character. The Ashanti were active slavers and slave traders (owing to their Atlantic exposure) through the 19th century. After trade with America ceased, they supplied slaves to South America, particularly Brazil, to serve the tobacco, sugar and rice plantations.
