Zulu Wood Knobkierrie or Club, Based

Hooked, polished, a little bit modern. A club that happens to be a drawing.

This Zulu knobkierrie, called iwisa in isiZulu, was carved in wood in South Africa in the 20th century. Clubs of this kind were carried by men as everyday staffs and for protection, and also served in dance and ceremony as a mark of manhood. The long, gently tapering shaft rises to a smooth spherical head set at an angle, which gives it a graceful hooked profile. A deep brown patina with a soft sheen covers the surface.

Eighteen inches, on a dark square stand. Leave it alone on a table and let the silhouette work.