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ID #SA1173204
FOR SALE
£220
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A Hard Wood Fighting or Throwing Knobkerrie, Southern Africa C.1900
For sale by Mark J West
for sale €257     $279
£220
Mark J West

Mark J West

Sellingantiques Verified Since Dec 2016
Browse dealers 155 items
  • About Us
    Mark west is a specialist dealer in antique glass.
  • Trade Associations
    Mark J West is a registered member of BADA 
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Id #SA1173204
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A Hard Wood Fighting or Throwing Knobkerrie, Southern Africa C.1900

1900 - 1920
For Sale by Mark J West
Description

A hard wood fighting or throwing knobkerrie, Southern Africa c.1900

Physical Dimensions
Height
40cm (15.75")
Declaration

Mark J West has dated this African Hardwood Knobkerrie Club to the 1900s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1173204
Dealers Internal Reference
2009
Dealers Notes

markwest-glass.com

Description
A hard wood fighting or throwing knobkerrie, Southern Africa c.1900
Height
40cm (15.75")
Date of Manufacture

Mark J West has dated this African Hardwood Knobkerrie Club to the 1900s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1173204
Dealers Internal Ref
2009
Mark J West
Mark J West
Sellingantiques verified Since Dec 2016

Mark west is a specialist dealer in antique glass.

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Mark J West Profile Page

Trade Associations

Mark J West is a registered member of BADA 

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A hand-carved Southern African hardwood knobkerrie club with a smooth tapered shaft and a heavy spherical head.
1 / 2
Archive I A hand-carved Southern African hardwood knobkerrie club with a smooth tapered shaft and a heavy spherical head.

A Hard Wood Fighting or Throwing Knobkerrie, Southern Africa C.1900

Archive II A hand-carved Southern African hardwood knobkerrie club with a smooth tapered shaft and a heavy spherical head. View II
Enlarged Archival View
Mark J West

Mark J West
Telephone 07956 117 693
Location
Surrey
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/markjwest
Verified Since Dec 2016
Items For Sale 155
Mark J West
Mark J West
Verified Since Dec 2016
View Dealer Info
Location: Surrey, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/markjwest
Verified
Dec 2016
For Sale
155
A hand-carved Southern African hardwood knobkerrie club with a smooth tapered shaft and a heavy spherical head.
A hard wood fighting or throwing knobkerrie, Southern Africa c.1900
Ref: SA1173204
A hand-carved Southern African hardwood knobkerrie club with a smooth tapered shaft and a heavy spherical head.
Detail View 1
Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectEthnographic Art
  • Period1900 - 1920
  • StyleSouthern African Tribal
  • MaterialHardwood
  • ColourDark Brown
  • MotifsSpherical head, Tapered shaft, Hand-carved wood
  • SizeH 40 cm (16 in)

This Southern African tribal hardwood knobkerrie club dates from around 1900. The piece is formed from a dark brown timber, shaped with a smooth tapered shaft and a heavy spherical head featuring subtle textured carving along the underside where the head meets the shaft. A small white paper label is attached near the bottom handle end, and the timber shows natural variations in grain tone across its surface. Measuring 40 cm high, the club has a compact form that fits easily onto a bookshelf or mantelpiece. In a contemporary home, this ethnographic art object suits placement within a gentleman's library or study as a decorative display piece. The dark wooden finish integrates well with traditional book collections, leather armchairs, or wooden shelving units. Its solid construction and hand-carved details make it a distinctive historical conversation piece for an interior shelf setting.

FAQs

A knobkerrie, or iwisa, is a traditional wooden club from Southern Africa featuring a distinctive rounded head attached to a smooth shaft. Historically, these items served dual purposes as hunting weapons, defensive tools in close-combat, and symbolic markers of prestige among regional leaders.

Traditional knobkerries are typically hand-carved from dense, resilient indigenous hardwoods such as ironwood, wild olive, or red ivory. These dense timber varieties were selected specifically to ensure structural durability, heft, and resistance to splitting during impact.

Authentic antique examples exhibit hand-carved marks, a natural patina developed through decades of handling, and slight asymmetry indicative of hand tools. Look for subtle wear along the grip, age-related surface checking, and the absence of modern machine-cut tool marks or synthetic varnishes.

In contemporary interior design, ethnographic artefacts are frequently displayed on custom metal mounts within shadow boxes or laid horizontally on open shelving units. Positioning the piece alongside books, ceramics, or architectural elements adds historic narrative and textural interest to a study or gallery display.

Keep the wood stored in a climate-controlled environment away from direct heat sources and sunlight to prevent cracking or warping. Periodic application of a high-grade beeswax polish rubbed lightly with a soft cloth helps preserve the natural timber lustre without altering the historical patina.
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