Nifo'oti

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Knife <grip weapon>

Originally, the knives called Nifo'oti in Samoa, were modelled on European knives used for cutting sugar cane. They were made of wood and were used as combat weapons in the often violent and bloody conflicts within Samoa since the early 19th century. This specimen has a metal blade and was imported from England. Rings of plant fibre on the handle of the knife are attached either for decoration or to reinforce the handle.

Data Provider
Museen Freiburg Show original at data provider

Cataloguing data

Object type
Knife
Dimensions
Length: 780.0 mm
Material/Technique
Steel, Brass, Plant fibre
Current location
Museum Natur und Mensch
Inventory number
II/1962

Provenance and sources

  • Change of legal title:
    Donation
    when
    March 1932
    who
    Frau Konteradmiral Maria Katharina Schönfelder - Former Possessors
  • Change of physical control or legal title
    where
    Samoa Islands (location/origin)
    Oceania (location/origin)
    Polynesia (location/origin)
    Upolu (location/origin)
    Western Samoa (location/origin)
    Apia (location/origin)
    who
    Konteradmiral Victor Schönfelder (10.03.1856 - 23.12.1931) - Collectors
    Konteradmiral Victor Schönfelder (10.03.1856 - 23.12.1931) - Collectors
  • Assignment to a curated holding:
    Oceania

Information about the record

Legal status metadata
CC0 1.0 DEED
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