Important Collection of Antique Asian Arms
Lot 282:
Lightweight, wooden, ball-headed clubs like this one from South Africa are commonly termed ‘knobkerries’. They are also called ‘Knopkieri’ by the Afrikans, but the worditself is a mixture of the Kung (Kalahari bushmen) term ‘kieri’ meaning ‘club’ and the English’knop’ or ‘knob’, alluding to the rounded head. In some examples the head is hollow and was usedas a snuff container, snuff being still widely used in sub-Saharan Africa.This club is finely made and would have been a fine object known to its Zulu owner as an Iwisa.It features a rounded head and a decorative striped band around the shaft made of iron, copperand brass wire. The knobkerrie was less often used than the spear and shield in warfare, and thisIwisa would have been part of male everyday dress, carried as a means of self-defence (to beboth wielded and thrown) and as an accessory for hunting. It was also the traditional weapon ofexecution under paramount chief Shaka (1787-1828), whereby repeated blows were delivered tothe back of the head. Shaka executed thousands, both enemies and his own people, in his quest tounite the Zulu tribes and transform them into fearsome warriors and turn the Zulu empire into potent military machine. In recent times, the Zulu political movement Inkatha have claimed the right of the Zulu man to bear arms, and both Iwisa and spears have been designated as Cultural Weapons by the South African government. Iwisa come in many form from long thin examples such as the example in the Schmiedt Collection to much larger and heavy examples with larger rounded knobs.Total Length : 37 1/2".References:1. Stone, G. C. (1934). A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration, and Use of Arms andArmor in All Countries and in All Times. Mineola NY: Dover Publications.2. Spring, Christopher (1993). African arms and armour. British Museum Press3. Pitt River Museum. Arms and Armor Around the World- Zulu Knobkerry- Knobkerriefrom South Africa. Collected by Francis Acland, Henry Acland or John Bodger. Given tothe Museum by Clemence Margaret Acland in 1943.â€ÂDetailed condition reports are not included in this catalog. For additional information, including condition reports, please contact us at [email protected]
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