Lew Waldman's Ethnographic Arms & Armour Collection Archive


202 - African Zulu Offset Knobkerrie Club, Late 19th Century

An unusual and uncommon variant of the Zulu knobkerrie club with an offset head having an overall length of 24¾ inches (63 cm). The wood of the well smoothed handle is lighter than most of that of the somewhat flattened head that measures 3.15 inches (8 cm) in greatest diameter. The near and far faces of the head each show additional carving with a circular depression on the proximal face and an irregular annular depression on the distal face. Moderate scuffing and narrow cracks are present on the head as shown in the pictures. The club weighs just over 12 ounces (351 grams). Lew dated this example as circa 1879 - 1885.




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