RARE TRIBAL TREASURES AND SWORDS FOUND UNDER BED

A rare collection of tribal weapons and artefacts has been discovered under a bed in a house on the Suffolk/Essex border during a routine sales valuation by an expert from Cambridgeshire based auctioneers, Rowley's in Ely. The swords, spears and clubs had been collected in the 1960's and 1970's by a private collector. His widow was unaware of the contents of the two trunks, cached under the bed, inside which were weapons from Africa, Tibet and the Polynesian Islands. They included;

A rare 19th century Zulu Knobkerrie with a brass plaque describing how it had been found and removed from the Battlefield of Isandlwana on January 22nd 1879- the first significant battle of the Anglo- Zulu War (later depicted in the film "Zulu Dawn").

A rare late 18th/early 19th century ball headed warriors club from the South Pacific island of Vanuatu- 'The New Hebrides'. The islands were originally christened the 'Fire Belching Islands' by Portuguese explorers but were renamed The New Hebrides by Captain Cook in 1774. Cook's atlas from these voyages illustrates an almost identical example.

Auctioneer Silas Currie said; "It is unusual to find good original and untouched examples of African, Asian and Oriental weapons in this country.

To discover so many together in a private collection is extremely rare".

The spears, swords, clubs, paddles and shields are to be sold together with assorted coins and medals including a Military Cross group in the forthcoming Collectors Auction to be held at Rowley's Auctioneers, 8 Downham Road, Ely, Cambridgeshire on Tuesday 28th April.

Contact Details:

James Guyer

Rowley's Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers

8 Downham Road, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB6 1AH Telephone 01353 653020 Fax 01353 653022

Email: james@rowleyfineart.com