Dagger and sheath
Metal and wood
Dagger from northern Zimbabwe
This dagger is from Mashonaland in northern Zimbabwe, the traditional home of the Shona people. It consists of a straight metal blade with a wooden handle and wooden sheath.
The wooden handle and sheath are designed to fit seamlessly together, and have leaf motifs inscribed in a dark brown. Wire bindings surround the handle and sheath at three points. The sheath has a wooden loop on the back, probably allowing the knife to be suspended from a belt.
Museum object number
See related topic: World Collection: War and Hunting
A similar dagger from Mashonaland in the collections of the British Museum.