Accession Number
1998/1.119

Title
Knife

Artist(s)
Mangbetu

Artist Nationality
Mangbetu

Object Creation Date
20th century

Medium & Support
metal and wood

Dimensions
1 11/16 in x 16 in x 7 3/16 in (4.29 cm x 40.64 cm x 18.26 cm)

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

Subject matter
The distinctive curved and pierced blade suggests that this knife was made by the Mangbetu peoples. Its shape made it ideal to be balanced over the shoulder, or carried by hand, and elaborately decorated knives often signified the status and prestige of their owners among Mangbetu communities.

References Cited: 
Hurst, Norman. 1997. Ngola: The Weapon as Authority, Identity, and Ritual Object in Sub-Saharan Africa. Cambridge, MA: Hurst Gallery.

Physical Description
A knife with a curved blade that has two small holes near the bottom of the blade. There is a horizontal bar on the shaft, downward angled spurs above the wood block, and a cylindrical handle. 

Primary Object Classification
Arms and Armor

Primary Object Type
knife

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
knife
leadership
men (male humans)
symbols of office or status
weapons