Collection record · Objects & craft
Club (Knobkerrie)
The collection record classifies this work as arms and armor. It is dated 1800s–1900s. Recorded culture or place: Africa, Southern Africa, Kingdom of Eswatini, Swazi-style maker.
Explore the object recordOBJECT RECORD
A closer look at the details.
- Museum title
- Club (Knobkerrie)
- Date
- 1800s–1900s
- Culture / origin
- Africa, Southern Africa, Kingdom of Eswatini, Swazi-style maker
- Materials and technique
- Wood
- Dimensions
- Overall: 66 cm (26 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Not specified by the museum
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 2010.203
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
Relatively short sticks historically used for hunting and fighting are customarily called knobkerries. A combination of Afrikaans and Shona words, the name refers to the characteristic spherical knob of wood (knop) or head atop a cylindrical shaft (kirri). The knobs on these were carved into a tight whorl and a compressed sphere with a central rib. Even though their basic shapes were derived from real weapons, many of these precious objects were rarely if ever used as such. Highly personal, they instead functioned as ceremonial display items or regalia, symbolizing the masculinity and prowess of their owner.
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Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund · CC0
The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.
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