Symbolic Battle Axe
Nguni / Sotho, South Africa / Lesotho
Iron, wood, string
Late 19th century

The so-called battle axes from South Africa were well-known functional objects used for hunting and fighting. Their symbolic potency was also significant, as it related to ceremonies, aristocratic power, and cultural identity.

Very little is recorded about this specific type, which is distinct for its tang that has an elegant serpentine shape on the side of the shaft opposite the blade. The blade protrudes far beyond the top of the wood, making it functional in stabbing and chopping. One example of this type was said to have been collected during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 (Maggs, The Zulu Battle Axe, 1993).

32.5 in :: 83 cm

InventoryID #13-2996

Price on Request