Toubou Arm Dagger
Toubou Arm Dagger
Toubou
French Equatorial Africa (Chad)
First half of the 20th century (ca. 1920 - 1945)
Steel, leather, iron
Blade: 13,7cm
Hilt & Blade: 25,7cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 26,4cm
Collection Date: 2025
Collection Number: 497
Ex. American Art Market (2025)
A classic arm dagger of the nomadic Toubou People of Saharan Chad. These types of daggers are used by both the Teda and Daza groups of the Toubou, and worn hidden under the garb on the arm.
The straight steel blade is double- edged, widened at the base before tapering to a long, sharp acute point. A thick medial ridge spans the entire lengthof the blade. A series of four fine grooves are present along the blade's edge that converge toward the point. The center is engraved with geometric triangular motifs.
The hilt of leather woven strips bound together. The pommel having a triangular iron protrusion. Sheath of red leather. Tucked on the back side is a pair of incised steel tweezers and hair pick. Attached is a leather plaited arm loop. A very good Toubou arm dagger with a heavy blade and having good age.
[1] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1987-12-3-a-b
[2] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1980-22-10-a-b
[4] https://africanarms.com/gallery.html?tubu-arm-dagger-dagger-37-cm