Zulu Knobkierrie or Club Based

Sphere and line. That is the whole design. Nothing has ever needed more.

This knobkierrie was made in wood by the Zulu peoples of South Africa in the 20th century. Among the Zulu it served as a weapon and walking stick and as a sign of a man’s status, and it is still carried at ceremonies and gatherings. A perfectly round ball crowns a long, straight shaft that narrows very slightly toward the end. The wood is dark and polished, with a few lighter scuffs and fine scratches from use along the handle.

Nearly twenty-four inches, on a square black base. It looks at home in a modern room, and always did.