19Th Century Zulu Knobkerrie.
£155.00
A 19th Century Zulu Knobkerrie with Wire Decoration
A fine 19th century African Zulu knobkerrie (iwisa), the spherical head carved from dense hardwood, bearing a series of small notched incisions believed to represent animal or human kills. The shaft is encased with tightly wound twisted wire decoration, giving both grip and visual embellishment, a feature often reserved for higher-status warriors.
The knobkerrie was the quintessential weapon and symbol of authority within Zulu society, serving as both a close-combat club and a ceremonial staff. The presence of tally-like notches on the head suggests this piece may have held particular personal significance, recording feats of the warrior who wielded it.
Such weapons were not only tools of war but also badges of identity, prestige, and memory within the Zulu martial tradition.
Southern Africa, Zulu, circa 1870–1890.
In stock