The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of December 19, 2025
Knife
before 1916
Overall: 36.1 cm (14 3/16 in.); Blade: 24.7 cm (9 3/4 in.)
Gift of J. H. Wade 1916.721
Location: Not on view
Description
The Kuba, also known as the Bushongo or "People of the Throwing Knife," used knives as symbols of civic authority. Chiefs and other members of the ruling elite carried this type (ikul). Introduced by King Shyaam in the second quarter of the 17th century, the ikul replaced the warrior's throwing knife and proclaimed an era of peace. Note the elaborate inlaid metal patterns in the handle and the incised lines in the blade.- Standing on Ceremony: Traditional African Arms from the Donna and Robert Jackson Collection and the Cleveland Museum of Art. Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (April 24, 2004-March 15, 2005).Western Reserve Historical Society (4/24/2004 - 11/27/2004): 'Standing on Ceremony: Traditional African Arms from the Donna and Robert Jackson Collection and the Cleveland Museum of Art"
- {{cite web|title=Knife|url=false|author=|year=before 1916|access-date=19 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1916.721