The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 18, 2025

Club (Knobkerrie)

late 1800s or early 1900s

Southern Africa, South Africa, Northern Ngun-style or Zulu-style maker

Wood
Overall: 66 cm (26 in.)
Gift of Dori and Daniel Rootenberg, Jacaranda Tribal, New York 2010.232
Location: 108B Southern African

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.
  • 1992
    Merton Simpson, New York, NY
    1992–2005
    Marc and Denyse Ginzberg, New York, NY
    ?–2010
    Dori and Daniel Rootenberg, Jacaranda Tribal, New York, NY, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    2010–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Ginzberg, Marc, and Lynton Gardiner. 2000. African Forms. 1st ed. Milano, Italy, New York: Skira ; Distributed in North America and Latin America by Abbeville Pub. Group, p. 203.
  • The Art of Daily Life: Portable Objects From Southeast Africa. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (April 17, 2011-February 26, 2012).
    Cleveland Museum of Art, (4/16/11-2/26/12); "The Art of Daily Life: Portable Objects from Southeast Africa" cat. no. 44
  • {{cite web|title=Club (Knobkerrie)|url=false|author=|year=late 1800s or early 1900s|access-date=18 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2010.232