Mandinka Knife
Mandinka Knife
Mandinka People
French West Africa Region (The Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso)
Early 20th century (ca. 1900 - 1930)
Steel, wood, leather, brass
Blade: 31,1cm
Hilt & Blade: 47,6cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 48,9cm
Collection Date: 2022
Collection Number: 296
Ex. Auctions Imperial: Chatsworth, California (2022)
A knife originating from the Mandinka People of West Africa, known particularly for their intricate tooled and plaited leatherwork. The double- edged steel blade is fairly rusted and slightly pitted, but geometric linear engravings can still be seen on the forte of the blade along with small star motifs. The cylindrical and bulbous hilt is wood wrapped in leather with a brass finial. The tooled leather sheath is stamped with geometric designs, decorated with brass wire bands. This knife dates to the early 20th century.