Rare small dagger with scabbard, before 1918 ·  Namibia, Ovambo, Ondonga · ID: 3046105

Description

wood, sheet copper, steel, carved eyelet on the backside for attachment, base

According to a note in the catalog “Die ethnographische Südwestafrika-Sammlung Hans Schinz 1884-86”, these knives were worn on leather belts around the hips. Chiefs of the Ondonga tribe conferred these prominent daggers on sentries as a special honor.

The object Rare small dagger with scabbard, before 1918 with the object ID 3046105 was last part of the auction 93rd Tribal Art Auction at November 16, 2019 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 345 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,500.

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Comparing literature

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