Artwork Page for Club (Knobkerrie)

Details / Information for Club (Knobkerrie)

Club (Knobkerrie)

1800s–1900s

Africa, Southern Africa, Kingdom of Eswatini, Swazi-style maker

Medium
Wood
Measurements
Overall: 66 cm (26 in.)
Credit Line
Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund 2010.203
Public Domain
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Location
108B Southern African
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Did You Know?

The term knobkerrie refers to a characteristic spherical knob of wood or head atop a cylindrical shaft.

Description

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.
A dark-brown wood club features a slender shaft and a distinctively ribbed head. This head consists of parallel circular ridges of varying diameters that create a rounded, barrel-like form, capped by small cylindrical knobs on either side. The entire object has a smooth, polished surface with a visible grain and warm undertones. The shaft joins the head at the top, extending downward in a long, vertical line.

Club (Knobkerrie)

1800s–1900s

Africa, Southern Africa, Kingdom of Eswatini, Swazi-style maker

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