Stingray Barb Dagger
Manding (Mandingo), West Africa
Stingray barb, leather, wood, string
20th century

While stingray barb daggers are historically associated with Oceania (such as Papua New Guinea or Micronesia), this dagger is decidedly African. The design and color of the leatherwork on the handle here as well as on some related pieces suggests an origin from the Manding (Mandingo), who are spread widely across West Africa, from Guinea to Niger. Importantly, the Manding are known to have inhabited areas in which other cultures decorated their blades with stingray elements, such as northern Benin and the Bariba culture, and southern Ghana and the Akan culture.

Two closely-related stingray daggers auctioned by Sala Retiro Subastas (Madrid) in 2026 are pictured below. They were only identified as “African.”

Ex. Pier Giorgio Cerrini, Brussels.

14.25 in :: 36 cm

InventoryID #13-2989

Price on Request