Finger Knife Item Number: Aj149 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Metal strip with a flat end which curves up to form a ring (but does not meet). The other end is rounded and curves over forming a claw-like prong; metal is corroded.
History Of Use
Double-edged finger-knife. See Best, 'Culture and Language of the Turkana' (1983): "finger-knife: egolu, ngigolai; echorogat, ngichorogai". Also, see Soper, 'Socio-Cultural Profile of Turkana District' (p. 132): "the egolu is the Turkana knife carried on the finger. There are two designs of egolu, the double edged and the single edged…"
Cultural Context
Decorative; warfare.
Item History
- Made in Uganda before 1952
- Collected during 1952
- Owned by Eleanore C. Treutle Stephens before December 1, 1986
- Received from Eleanore C. Treutle Stephens (Donor) on December 1, 1986
What
Who
- Culture
- Karamojong
- Previous Owner
- Eleanore C. Treutle Stephens
- Received from
- Eleanore C. Treutle Stephens (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Uganda
When
- Creation Date
- before 1952
- Collection Date
- during 1952
- Ownership Date
- before December 1, 1986
- Acquisition Date
- on December 1, 1986
Other
- Item Classes
- metalwork
- Condition
- good
- Current Location
- Case 100
- Accession Number
- 1156/0024