Luxury Dagger in Sheath
Kirdi, Nigeria / Cameroon
Iron, brass, leather
Early 20th century

The blacksmiths of the so-called Kirdi people of the Mandara mountains of northern Cameroon and eastern Nigeria produced a fascinating variety of knives, among them this dagger with its distinctive pommel consisting of two coils. Westerdijk describes this type as a “luxury dagger” (African Metal Implements, 1983).

The Kirdi people number 80,000, and are primarily farmers who live in small, autonomous hamlets. Their artistic production primarily consists of leather and metal objects as well as small terracotta figures (Bacquart, The Tribal Arts of Africa, 1998).

This piece has a decidedly different surface on the two sides of the solid-brass handle - probably an indication that it was stored on one side for many years. 

14.5 in :: 37 cm

InventoryID #13-2717

Price on Request