Small sword. The curved blade is decorated with six cutout lines and an X design with a dot in each angle. Two rows of small hammered curved lines outline the edge of the blade and around each cutout. The handle depicts a seated female with hands on knees. She wears a tall pointed headdress with two smaller ear-like points extending out. She has small pointed breasts, a large protruding naval, wears a large necklace with triangular pendant, and has a band around her waist, which repeats down the handle three more times. Her cheeks are marked with lines representing scarification(?).

• Narrative

  Assumed to have been collected by Lieber while he was living in Nigeria (1965-1970), lecturing at the University of Ibadan under the auspices of CIDA.

• Iconographic Meaning

  The lines on the female figure's face potentially represent Yoruba ritual scarification. The shape of the blade is also associated with the spirit Ogun in Yoruba tradition, a spiritual figure associated with metalworking.

• History Of Use

  These swords, with their distinctive J-shaped blades and anthropomorphic hilts, were usually ceremonial, used in spiritual practices or as a symbol of social status. This sword potentially belonged to a member of the Ogboni Society. The Ogboni Society is a fraternal institution in Yoruba-speaking communities in Nigeria. Members of this organization have historically had significant political influence and served in judicial courts. If this sword belonged to a member of the Ogboni Society, it could have possessed additional ceremonial significance due to the social status of its bearer.

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• Type of Item sword
• Culture Yoruba
• Material bronze metal
• Measurements height 49.0 cm, width 9.3 cm, depth 2.7 cm (overall)

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• Previous Owner Jack Lieber, Iris Lieber
• Received from Iris Lieber

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• Made in Nigeria

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• Collection Date between 1965 and 1970
• Ownership Date before 2015, before June 18, 2018
• Acquisition Date on June 18, 2018

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• Condition fair
• Accession Number 3326/0048