Ask the Scholar

{
    "localId": "97095",
    "label": "Knife",
    "core": "obj",
    "dtoType": "object"
}

{
    "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",
    "citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1916.743",
    "rights": "CC0",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "wikidata": [
        "Q79481180"
    ],
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Arms and Armor"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.743/1916.743_web.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.743/1916.743_web.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.743/1916.743_web.jpg",
    "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"
}

{
    "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.",
    "url": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1916.743",
    "creditline": "Gift of J. H. Wade",
    "updatedAt": "2026-05-29 05:13:54.885000",
    "imageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.743/1916.743_print.jpg",
    "sourceId": 97095,
    "dept": "African Art",
    "coll": "African Art",
    "med": "Iron, wood, copper alloy, upholstery studs, plant fibers, and rawhide",
    "thumbnail_url": null,
    "image_url": null
}

{
    "seq": 1,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "photo",
    "url": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.743/1916.743_web.jpg",
    "mediaId": "9904075de6a1c10a"
}