A Fine Kota Onzil/Musele Knife - Gabon
Early-Mid 20th Century
Iron, wood, brass, copper
L. 14 in.
PROVENANCE: Anthony C. Tirri Collection of Miami, Florida and Villers-Helon, Paris
Private Collection, Boynton Beach, Florida, 2015
EXHIBITED:University of Central Missouri, McClure Archives Museum, Sacred: The Ritual Arts of Africa, January 8-March 9, 2018, Cat No. 16.4.1
Description: A musele bird head prestige knife with pierced triangular eye, parallel groove to the center of blade with incised ornament to the neck, the waisted grip bound with metal wire.
The subject knife displays traditional Kota artistry and formerly of the Anthony C. Tirri Collection of Miami, Florida and Villers-Helon, Paris. Tirri was a real estate developer, historian, and renowned weapons collector who had a deep passion for Islamic and African armaments. This enthusiasm led him to write two highly regarded publications: "Islamic Weapons: Maghrib to Moghul." Indigo Publishing, Indiana University, 2004, and "Islamic and Native Weapons of Colonial Africa: 1800-1960." Indigo Publishing, Indiana University, 2007.
Curatorial Remarks: Surface wear commensurate with age and use.
The Kota arrived in their current location after completing a series of migrations that started to the northeast, possibly near Sudan. These migrations began in the 18th century and were underway when European contact was first made about 150 years later. Often called a "bird head" knife for its resemblance to the African Hornbill (Calao), the musele knife was carried by chiefs and ritual specialists of the Mungala secret society. Despite resembling the design of some knives, this object was a potent spiritual symbol that was not intended for use as a weapon. Dr. Christopher Spring, Curator of the African Galleries at the British Museum writes: "Among the Kota, spears, knives, and swords, including the musele, were considered to be emblems of the owner's status and were left on tombs of chiefs after death, along with the family reliquary. One cannot, then, study Kota reliquary figures in isolation from the musele and other weaponry" (Spring, 1993)..
Cf. Knife (Museum No. Af1956,27.311), Made by Fang, Gabon, French Equatorial Africa, Iron wood, brass, Gifted by Mrs Margaret Plass, The British Museum, London and Zemanek-Münster Catalog, Tribal Art: Fine Old Art from Africa, Asia, Australia, Oceania and America, Sale 75, Würzburg, Germany, November 30, 2013, Lot 381 (EST 1,000-2,000 EUR) for comparable examples.
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