Two Very Rare and Unusually Shaped South African, possibly North Nguni, ceremonial wooden clubs
Two Very Rare and Unusually Shaped South African, possibly North Nguni, ceremonial
wooden clubs
The shafts decorated and bound with wirework
19th Century
Size : 61.5 cm long – 24¼ ins long and 53 cm long – 21 ins long
wooden clubs
The shafts decorated and bound with wirework
19th Century
Size : 61.5 cm long – 24¼ ins long and 53 cm long – 21 ins long
These highly unusual, and seemingly unrecorded, clubs are reminiscent of the large knopkerries used for ceremonial executions that became outlawed by the British at the end of the 19th century. In order to prevent men from carrying these potentially lethal weapons a law was passed that specified the size of the knob was to be small enough to fit into the owners mouth. Perhaps these oval shaped heavy clubs were made in response to the colonial British law ?
Two Very Rare and Unusually Shaped South African, possibly North Nguni, ceremonial wooden clubs
SOLD
