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Copyright
All Rights Reserved ()

Ceremonial Sword

Accession Number
1998/1.88

Title
Ceremonial Sword

Artist(s)
Asante

Artist Nationality
Asante

Object Creation Date
20th century

Medium & Support
iron, wood and brass

Dimensions
55 1/8 in x 15 15/16 in x 8 11/16 in (140.02 cm x 40.48 cm x 22.07 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Susan B. and John F. Ullrich

Label copy

Subject matter
Another type of ceremonial sword used in the court of the Asantehene, the ruler of the Asante, is the long sword called afenatene. These swords have long, elaborate blades with thin metalwork ending in two or three large blades and they often have multiple handles. Motifs featured on the handles can also be found on linguist staffs or umbrella finials, which often communicate a specific proverb. The shaft of this sword features knots, which are also a motif seen in gold-weights. As objects of display, proverbs—and their messages—symbolized in some afenatene would have been visible to those in the Asantehene's court. 

References Cited: 
MacLeod, Malcolm D. 1981. The Asante. London: British Museum Publications Ltd. 

Physical Description
This sword with three barbell-shaped handles is attached to a wrought iron shaft ending in two large, curved blades. The shaft is composed of three sections of hourglass-shaped open work interspersed with knots. The two top blades have triangular cut-outs. 

Primary Object Classification
Metalwork

Primary Object Type
sword

Collection Area
African

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form. Keywords
ceremonial swords
regalia
royalty (nobility)
symbols of office or status

& Author Notes

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