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Source Description
This beautifully wrought knife served as a symbol of political authority among the Ngala. Quite literally it signified the power of life and death for its form was derived from that of an executioner's knife.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
97095
label
Knife
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
97095
contentType
object
title
Knife
description
This beautifully wrought knife served as a symbol of political authority among the Ngala. Quite literally it signified the power of life and death for its form was derived from that of an executioner's knife.
date
c. 1900
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q79481180
genreSpecific
Arms and Armor
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 57.2 cm (22 1/2 in.); Blade: 41.4 cm (16 5/16 in.)
cul
Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Bangala-style maker
accession
1916.743
Source extras
tec
Iron, wood, copper alloy, upholstery studs, plant fibers, and rawhide
tombstone
Knife, c. 1900. Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Bangala-style maker. Iron, wood, copper alloy, upholstery studs, plant fibers, and rawhide; overall: 57.2 cm (22 1/2 in.); blade: 41.4 cm (16 5/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of J. H. Wade, 1916.743
collection
African Art
didYouKnow
Different metals used on this knife result in a variety of colors.
creditline
Gift of J. H. Wade
updatedAt
2026-05-29 05:13:54.885000
sourceId
97095
dept
African Art
coll
African Art
med
Iron, wood, copper alloy, upholstery studs, plant fibers, and rawhide
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
9904075de6a1c10a