Prestige Dagger in Sheath Kirdi/ Asante People, Nigeria / Cameroon Early 20th century Iron, wood, leather, monitor skin 16.75 x 2.875 in / 42.5 x 7.25 cm The blacksmiths of the Kirdi people of the Mandara mountains of northern Cameroon and eastern Nigeria produced a fascinating variety of knives, among them this dagger with its distinctive pommel consisting of two coils. Westerdijk describes this type as a “luxury dagger” (African Metal Implements, 1983). The Kirdi number 80,000, and are primarily farmers who live in small, autonomous hamlets. Their artistic production primarily consists of leather and metal objects as well as small terracotta figures (Bacquart, The Tribal Arts of Africa, 1998). $1200
