Finger Knife Item Number: Aj133 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Iron strip with one end folded over to form a ring. End of ring is wrapped with a metal coil. One end is a flat oval, slightly curving, thin with a sharp knife point. Four ringed decorations, in increasing size, at base of knife. Metal is corroded.
History Of Use
Single-edged finger-knife. Similar to the type used by the Turkana people. Described in 'A Socio-cultural Profile of Turkana District' (Soper, p. 132): "the egolu is the Turkana knife carried on the finger. There are two designs of egolu, the double edged and the single edged…"
Cultural Context
Decorative; warfare.
Item History
- Made in Uganda before 1952
- Collected during 1952
- Owned by Eleanore C. Treutle Stephens before December 1, 1986
- Received from Eleanore C. Treutle Stephens (Donor) on December 1, 1986
What
Who
- Culture
- Karamojong
- Previous Owner
- Eleanore C. Treutle Stephens
- Received from
- Eleanore C. Treutle Stephens (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Uganda
When
- Creation Date
- before 1952
- Collection Date
- during 1952
- Ownership Date
- before December 1, 1986
- Acquisition Date
- on December 1, 1986
Other
- Item Classes
- metalwork
- Condition
- fair
- Current Location
- Case 100
- Accession Number
- 1156/0002