1884.24.242.1

Collection type

Object

Description

Knife [.1] with asymmetrical leaf-shaped blade and flat horn hilt with three iron projections on butt, in a hide sheath [.2] [SM 21/06/2007]

Long description

Knife [.1] with asymmetrical leaf-shaped blade and flat horn hilt with three iron projections on butt, in a hide sheath [.2] The hilt has a carved out grip with a band of flat pieces of iron inlaid through it. The central iron projection is roughly square in section and tapers to a blunt tip. The edges have notches on them. The two outer projections are triangular in section. The sheath is made from three pieces of hide stitched together with string. The mouth and tip are decorated with stitched leather thongs and the edges are reinforced in the upper half with stitched leather thongs in a plaited pattern. A leather belt is wrapped around the sheath. It has a hole through one end and a leather knot at the other, to secure it around the body. [SM 21/06/2007]

Geographical reference

Somalia

Africa > Eastern Africa > Somalia

Unknown

Cultural groups

Somali

Person

Maker Unknown Maker

Field collector Unknown Collector

PRM source Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers founding collection

Date / Period

Date made: Possibly before 1874

Date collected

?By 1874

Acquisition information

Donated: 1884

Materials and processes

Material Iron Metal, Material Animal Horn, Material Animal Hide Skin, Material Animal Leather Skin, Material String, Process Forged (Metal), Process Carved, Process Stitched, Process Perforated, Process Decorated, Process Notched

Dimensions

Length: max 336 mm knife, Width: max 57 mm knife, Length: max 205 mm sheath

Object numbers

Accession number: 1884.24.242.1 Accession number: 1884.24.242.2 PR Cat other PR nos: 1131

Research and responses

See Chris Spring, 1993: Chapter 6 [AP Leverhulme project on founding collection 1995-1998]

Search terms: Weapon, Tool, Knife, Dagger, Sheath, Belt, Carrying Device