Zulu Wood Knobkierrie or Club, Based

The head is carved all over with tiny marks, like a map no one finished.

This knobkierrie, a Zulu club from South Africa, was carved in wood in the 20th century. Zulu men commonly carried such clubs for protection and as a sign of standing. A heavy, rounded head tops a straight shaft that tapers gently down. The surface is a rich reddish brown, finely incised across the head, with a few small pocks along the stem. A square black base keeps it upright.

About 22 inches tall. It rests on a shelf like an exclamation mark you did not ask for.