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Relatively short sticks historically used for hunting and fighting are customarily called knobkerries. A combination of Afrikaans and Shona words, the name refers to the characteristic spherical knob of wood (knop) or head atop a cylindrical shaft (<em>kirri</em>). The knobs on these were carved into a tight whorl and a compressed sphere with a central rib. Even though their basic shapes were derived from real weapons, many of these precious objects were rarely if ever used as such. Highly personal, they instead functioned as ceremonial display items or regalia, symbolizing the masculinity and prowess of their owner.
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- Page
- 1
- Source index
- 0
- Type
- photo
- Media ID
- 335095c8064fc33a
- Size
- unknown
Document data
- ID
- 168424
- Core
- obj
- Type
- object
DTO data
{
"id": "168424",
"contentType": "object",
"title": "Club (Knobkerrie)",
"description": "Relatively short sticks historically used for hunting and fighting are customarily called knobkerries. A combination of Afrikaans and Shona words, the name refers to the characteristic spherical knob of wood (knop) or head atop a cylindrical shaft (<em>kirri</em>). The knobs on these were carved into a tight whorl and a compressed sphere with a central rib. Even though their basic shapes were derived from real weapons, many of these precious objects were rarely if ever used as such. Highly personal, they instead functioned as ceremonial display items or regalia, symbolizing the masculinity and prowess of their owner.",
"date": "1800s–1900s",
"citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/2010.203",
"rights": "CC0",
"rightsUri": "CC0",
"language": "en",
"wikidata": [
"Q60754996"
],
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"Arms and Armor"
],
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"largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2010.203/2010.203_web.jpg",
"imageCount": 1,
"source": "import",
"dimensionsRaw": "Overall: 66 cm (26 in.)",
"cul": [
"Africa, Southern Africa, Kingdom of Eswatini, Swazi-style maker"
],
"accession": "2010.203"
}
Context sent to Scholar
Document identity
{
"localId": "168424",
"label": "Club (Knobkerrie)",
"core": "obj",
"dtoType": "object"
}
Document source metadata
{
"id": "168424",
"contentType": "object",
"title": "Club (Knobkerrie)",
"description": "Relatively short sticks historically used for hunting and fighting are customarily called knobkerries. A combination of Afrikaans and Shona words, the name refers to the characteristic spherical knob of wood (knop) or head atop a cylindrical shaft (<em>kirri</em>). The knobs on these were carved into a tight whorl and a compressed sphere with a central rib. Even though their basic shapes were derived from real weapons, many of these precious objects were rarely if ever used as such. Highly personal, they instead functioned as ceremonial display items or regalia, symbolizing the masculinity and prowess of their owner.",
"date": "1800s–1900s",
"citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/2010.203",
"rights": "CC0",
"rightsUri": "CC0",
"language": "en",
"wikidata": [
"Q60754996"
],
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"Arms and Armor"
],
"iiifBase": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2010.203/2010.203_web.jpg",
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"imageCount": 1,
"source": "import",
"dimensionsRaw": "Overall: 66 cm (26 in.)",
"cul": [
"Africa, Southern Africa, Kingdom of Eswatini, Swazi-style maker"
],
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}
Document source extras
{
"tec": "Wood",
"tombstone": "Club (Knobkerrie), 1800s–1900s. Africa, Southern Africa, Kingdom of Eswatini, Swazi-style maker. Wood; overall: 66 cm (26 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund, 2010.203",
"collection": "African Art",
"didYouKnow": "The term <em>knobkerrie</em> refers to a characteristic spherical knob of wood or head atop a cylindrical shaft.",
"citations": [
{
"citation": "Ginzberg, Marc, and Lynton Gardiner. 2000. <em>African Forms</em>. 1st ed. Milano, Italy, New York: Skira ; Distributed in North America and Latin America by Abbeville Pub. Group, p. 200."
},
{
"citation": "Petridis, Constantijn, Karel Nel, and Cleveland Museum of Art. 2011. <em>The Art of Daily Life : Portable Objects from Southeast Africa</em>. Cleveland, Milan, New York: Cleveland Museum of Art ; 5 Continents Editions ; Distributed in U.S. by Harry N. Abrams, p. 69, fig. 7."
},
{
"citation": "Mann, C. Griffith. \"Acquisitions 2010.\" <em>Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine</em> 51, no. 2 (March/April 2011): 10-27.",
"page_number": "Mentioned and reproduced: p. 14",
"url": "https://archive.org/details/CMAMM2011-02/page/14/mode/2up"
}
],
"url": "https://clevelandart.org/art/2010.203",
"creditline": "Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund",
"updatedAt": "2026-05-29 08:39:43.282000",
"imageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2010.203/2010.203_print.jpg",
"sourceId": 168424,
"dept": "African Art",
"coll": "African Art",
"med": "Wood",
"thumbnail_url": null,
"image_url": null
}
Page context
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