Mandinka / fula Knife

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Mandinka Knife
Mandinka / Fula
French West Africa - The Gambia Colony and Protectorate (The Gambia), French Guinea - Portuguese Guinea (Guinea), French Sudan (Mali), Senegambia ( Senegal - Gambia), Ivory Coast
Mid- 20th century (ca. 1930 - 1960)
Steel, leather, vegetal fiber, wood
Blade: 15,9cm
Hilt & Blade: 22,2cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 26cm
Collection Date: 2016
Collection Number: 77

Ex American Art Market (2016)


A knife of West Africa African origin usually associated with the Mande and Fula. The Mande are known particularly for their intricate tooled and plaited leatherwork. This dagger has a thickened steel of double- edged type blade that tapers to a point. Leather wrapped hilt with plaited leather strips and blonde wicker. The sheath is consistent in the same decorative manner in leather covering with plaited leather strips and blonde wicker over a wood interior. The chape of leather tassles with green strips. Attached is a braided leather loop to help secure the knife in place. This knife dates to around the mid- 20th century.

[1] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=6160

[2] https://african-weapons.com/gallery?4-mandingo-knife-39-7-cm-54-cm

[3] https://galleryrider.com/index.php/african-art/archive/symmetrical-blades/dagger-sheath-manding-mandingo

[4] https://galleryrider.com/index.php/african-art/archive/symmetrical-blades/dagger-sheath-manding-mandingo-west-africa-1