Knife Handle Cover
Unknown Artist
1800s
Medium
Gold
Dimensions
h. 4.3 cm
Classification
Arms and Armor
Department
African Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Dudley P. Allen Fund
Accession Number
1935.311
About this artwork
Gold sheaths covered the cast iron blade of a king’s ceremonial knife (sikay), wrapping them with symbolism. In Akan states like the Asante Kingdom, gold embodies life force (kra) and is the sun’s earthly counterpart. Only goldsmiths’ guild members could make gold ornaments for the royals and their entourage, or for the royal treasury. Here, the goldsmith used a tool to push the raised floral, leaf, and geometric designs from the back of a soft sheet of gold (repoussé technique). Small dots outl...