African knife figural West Africa

[Jim McDougall]

This item is essentially in knife form, modern and well made, but IMO too much so to be regarded souvenir. The blade is unfullered sheet steel without edges. (no picture unfortunately).
To me it seems West African, but it seems similar figure popularity of this kind filters into Congo as well and likely even further.

The curious design on the scabbard and the inlay of gold metal wire into wood (mahogany?) might be to particular tribal group?

Really need help from you guys specializing in African stuff.

[Pertinax]

Contemporary piece from Tanzania/Zanzibar.

Best regards,
Yuri

[Marc M.]

Hi Jim
Objects made for sale to tourists are often very skillfully made, even if they are of a high quality in terms of carving they are often made to appeal to tourists and have nothing to very little to do with cultural origins. So, in my opinion, does this object.
Best regards
Marc

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you Pertinax and Marc very much for this information! It is surprising that this dagger is from the east in Tanzania and Zanzibar as I thought the figural art of the hilt resembled more of West African culture. It is also interesting that souvenir items are made with such quality. I am always amazed at the skill and craftsmanship of native artisans.

Is it possible that while apparently sold as souvenirs in these Tanzanian area outlets that the knives themselves might have come from West African sources?
Modern commercialism is of course global, but could these figure type knives have become more universally represented even with distant cultural ties?
Or as suggested, are such items simply aesthetic?

I have always studied arms from historical and ethnographic perspective, but these kinds of situations are perplexing in such research. It would be interesting to hear thoughts in this regard from those of you who study and collect in these ethnographic fields of the African continent.

Thank you again guys!
Jim

[Pertinax]

Originally Posted by Marc M.

Hi Jim
Objects made for sale to tourists are often very skillfully made, even if they are of a high quality in terms of carving they are often made to appeal to tourists and have nothing to very little to do with cultural origins. So, in my opinion, does this object.
Best regards
Marc

+100%

Souvenirs from Zanzibar