Rhino Horn Knobkerrie ?

colin henshaw · 31st July 2009, 07:54 AM

Hi David

Most likely the knobkerrie is from Southern Africa, the East African ones (rungus) tend to have a more pointed egg-shape, with a small collar or step below the head.

In which case, your example could be quite early (19th century) as the Europeans managed to wipe out most of the wildlife fairly quickly...

Colin

Tim Simmons · 31st July 2009, 12:48 PM

Just wanted to add this as it is quite interesting. It could also be a question, are these phallic stick clubs/batons possibly an Ethiopian tradition? I was hoping to include an ebay picture of the same three head motif on another stick only the size of a walking stick or staff but sadly I must have deleted it by mistake when clearing watched items. Here is a box, a suspect a snuff box judging by the black powder remains inside, carved as a bible. Look at the carved letters. The stick has one less but I think they are meant to be the same word. They are carved in the same manner but not by the same hand or in the same time. A coincidence the carvers having the same name? The name of a place of origin? I do not know but just goes to show one has to look far and wide for clues.

tribalarms · 31st July 2009, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

Just wanted to add this as it is quite interesting. It could also be a question, are these phallic stick clubs/batons possibly an Ethiopian tradition?

It's a nice stick, but I am quite sure it is not Ethiopian.

Tim Simmons · 31st July 2009, 01:42 PM

You know I think you are right. I have been looking at Cyrillic alphabets. I did not know there were so many variations. I think I should start a new thread on this.

Tim Simmons · 31st July 2009, 03:43 PM

I do not want to hijack Davids thread but I have just got to add this. These are old 18th century examples, I can show 20th century examples. There is a tradition of this sort of wood work. In one you see the same red and blue/black colour work. The head on the club/baton could some kind of holy trinity? is the script cyrillic? or an attempt at carving one of the two scripts seen on Ethiopian artifacts? The largest picture is Romanian and painted on glass.

Tim Simmons · 31st July 2009, 05:08 PM

The double headed eagle was one of the symbols adopted by Haile Selassie.

colin henshaw · 1st August 2009, 03:40 PM

Hi

I found this nice illustration in the 1892 book "Sultan to Sultan" by the determined American lady explorer, May French-Sheldon who travelled in the area north of Kilimanjaro in the 1890s.

Is shows well the form of East African knobkerrie or "rungu", to use the correct native term.

Regards

Tim Simmons · 1st August 2009, 04:48 PM

More East African. Oldman coll.

sandorius · 6th August 2009, 10:17 AM

Hello Katana,

I am really sure its made from rhino horn.
I am collecting things from rhino.
Next time i will post some nice photos from my collection.
Best regards if you got questions i hear it.
Greats from Holland

Tim Simmons · 6th August 2009, 07:59 PM

Looking in my pictures.

31st July 2009, 12:48 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,854	Just wanted to add this as it is quite interesting. It could also be a question, are these phallic stick clubs/batons possibly an Ethiopian tradition? I was hoping to include an ebay picture of the same three head motif on another stick only the size of a walking stick or staff but sadly I must have deleted it by mistake when clearing watched items. Here is a box, a suspect a snuff box judging by the black powder remains inside, carved as a bible. Look at the carved letters. The stick has one less but I think they are meant to be the same word. They are carved in the same manner but not by the same hand or in the same time. A coincidence the carvers having the same name? The name of a place of origin? I do not know but just goes to show one has to look far and wide for clues. Attached Images

31st July 2009, 03:43 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,854	I do not want to hijack Davids thread but I have just got to add this. These are old 18th century examples, I can show 20th century examples. There is a tradition of this sort of wood work. In one you see the same red and blue/black colour work. The head on the club/baton could some kind of holy trinity? is the script cyrillic? or an attempt at carving one of the two scripts seen on Ethiopian artifacts? The largest picture is Romanian and painted on glass. Attached Images

1st August 2009, 03:40 PM	#7
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,429	Hi I found this nice illustration in the 1892 book "Sultan to Sultan" by the determined American lady explorer, May French-Sheldon who travelled in the area north of Kilimanjaro in the 1890s. Is shows well the form of East African knobkerrie or "rungu", to use the correct native term. Regards Attached Images

1st August 2009, 04:48 PM	#8
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,854	More East African. Oldman coll. Attached Images

6th August 2009, 10:17 AM	#9
sandorius Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1	rhino knokberrie Hello Katana, I am really sure its made from rhino horn. I am collecting things from rhino. Next time i will post some nice photos from my collection. Best regards if you got questions i hear it. Greats from Holland

31st July 2009, 07:54 AM	#1
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,429	Hi David Most likely the knobkerrie is from Southern Africa, the East African ones (rungus) tend to have a more pointed egg-shape, with a small collar or step below the head. In which case, your example could be quite early (19th century) as the Europeans managed to wipe out most of the wildlife fairly quickly... Colin

31st July 2009, 01:42 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,854	You know I think you are right. I have been looking at Cyrillic alphabets. I did not know there were so many variations. I think I should start a new thread on this.

31st July 2009, 05:08 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,854	The double headed eagle was one of the symbols adopted by Haile Selassie.

6th August 2009, 07:59 PM	#10
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,854	Looking in my pictures. Attached Images

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