Cleveland Museum of Art

Knife

Date

c. 1900

Medium

Iron, wood, copper alloy, upholstery studs, plant fibers, and rawhide

Culture

Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Bangala-style maker

Department

African Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

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.

The authoritative record is held by Cleveland Museum of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.