750€
knobkerrie zulu club
Overall length
52cm (including the spherical head 11cm)
Materials
Iron, brass, hardwood
Dating
1900 - 1920
Provenance
Spanish art market
A nice Zulu 'iwisa' or 'knobkerrie'. The name is derived from the Afrikaans word knop, meaning knob or ball and the Khoekhoe or San word kirri, meaning walking stick. It's a traditional weapon among the Zulu who even lobbied to be allowed to carrie them in public. Apart from ceremonial and hunting purposes they were also used as close combat weapons. The variants with larger spherical heads were also used for executions. Also the Nguni and Xhosa tribes used them. Made of dark hardwood with the spherical knob in two tones. The 41cm shaft is embellished with two segments of finely plaited copper and brass wire. A solid item in very good condition. To be dated between 1900 and 1920.
LITERATURE
A knobkierrie with wire work showing a similar pattern is illustrated in Phillips (2004, p.210)
Price:
750€
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