Club (Knobkerrie)
ClassificationsArms and Armor-clubs
Date20th Century
Made AtTanzania, Africa
MediumWood
Dimensions21 × 2 3/4 × 2 7/8 in. (53.3 × 7 × 7.3 cm)
Credit LineGift of Anne and Long Shung Shih
Object number2019.15.5
DescriptionKnobkerrie clubs are attributed to over 120 different cultural groups in Tanzania and more cultures spanning Eastern and Southern Africa. The word knobkerrie literally translates to ‘stick with a ball at its end.’ Scholars suggest that their uses were varied, but functioned as weapons, prestige objects, forms of identification, and as bride price. Because they are symbols of manhood the clubs are most often, if not always, held by men. Knobkerries are almost always made of wood, but few rare examples feature heads made of stone or have inclusions of metal or beads.On View
Not on viewCollections
20th Century
20th Century
20th Century
20th Century
20th Century
20th Century
early to mid 20th Century
early to mid 20th Century
early to mid 20th Century
early to mid 20th Century
20th Century
19th Century