Zemanek-Münster
Rare small dagger with scabbard, before 1915, Namibia, Ovambo, Size: H: 21,5 cm B: 18,3 cm (H: 8.5 inch B: 7.2 inch), ID: 3047111
Rare small dagger with scabbard, before 1915, Namibia, Ovambo, Size: H: 21,5 cm B: 18,3 cm (H: 8.5 inch B: 7.2 inch), ID: 3047111 - 2/5 Rare small dagger with scabbard, before 1915, Namibia, Ovambo, Size: H: 21,5 cm B: 18,3 cm (H: 8.5 inch B: 7.2 inch), ID: 3047111 - 3/5 Rare small dagger with scabbard, before 1915, Namibia, Ovambo, Size: H: 21,5 cm B: 18,3 cm (H: 8.5 inch B: 7.2 inch), ID: 3047111 - 4/5 Rare small dagger with scabbard, before 1915, Namibia, Ovambo, Size: H: 21,5 cm B: 18,3 cm (H: 8.5 inch B: 7.2 inch), ID: 3047111 - 5/5
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Lot 332
95th Tribal Art Auction

Rare small dagger with scabbard, before 1915 ·  Namibia, Ovambo · ID: 3047111

sold EUR 3,500
Provenance
Old German Colonial Collection
German Collection, Hamburg
Size
H: 21,5 cm
B: 18,3 cm
H: 8.5 inch
B: 7.2 inch

Description

wood, copper sheet and wire, steel,
Already in 1910 Buschan reported in “Illustrierte Völkerkunde” (Illustrated Ethnology) (1910) about these extremely bizarre dagger sheaths. Such a stylization has already ceased to be useful and can only be compared with some “European fashion foolishness”.

According to Tönjes (1911), Chiefs (of the Ondonga tribe) conferred these prominent daggers on sentries as a special honor. They were worn on leather belts around the hips.

Comparing literature

Szalay, Miklós, Die ethnographische Südwestafrika-Sammlung Hans Schinz 1884-1886, Zürich 1979, p. 114 f

Africa

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