Club Item Number: Ac241 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Polished light brown cylindrical wood shaft with carved brown wood block at end. Shaft has two wide sheet metal bands around the circumference, one of which is at the lower end while another of which is below the pierced butt end with the knotted hide thong. Rectangular block on the vertical has slightly flared sides and has a design of triangular areas of parallel incised lines covering each face.
History Of Use
Carried by men for self-defense, particularly protection against animals.
Cultural Context
Weapon
Narrative
The collector, Nellie Taylor, served as a nursing missionary (1900-1920), first with the Ovimbundu at Bihe, then with the Chokwe at luma Kasai. She belonged to a group who sponsored several missions across Central Africa from 1881-1931.
Iconographic Meaning
The head of the club likely has a maswi a yisakala ("net of cages") pattern, one of the most widespread Chokwe decorative motifs.
Item History
- Made in Luma Kasai, Angola before 1920
- Collected between 1900 and 1920
- Owned by Nellie Taylor
- Owned by Gladys G. Cameron before January 12, 1979
- Received from Gladys G. Cameron (Donor) on January 12, 1979
What
Who
- Culture
- Chokwe
- Previous Owner
- Nellie Taylor and Gladys G. Cameron
- Received from
- Gladys G. Cameron (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Luma Kasai, Angola
When
- Creation Date
- before 1920
- Collection Date
- between 1900 and 1920
- Ownership Date
- before January 12, 1979
- Acquisition Date
- on January 12, 1979
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 0509/0014