Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Knife |
Catalog Number |
2020.005.02 |
Description |
Riam Hmoob, Hmong bird knife. Knife with a metal forged blade and handle. Wooden sheath with sale price "$20" written in marker and held together with black electrical tape. |
Provenance |
Made by Tong Khai Vang and purchased by donor at the Hmoob Cultural & Community Agency Blacksmith Shop. |
Made By |
Tong Khai Vang |
Date |
c. 2015 |
Material |
Metal, Wood |
Dimensions |
W-3.75 inches |
Width (in) |
3.750 |
Place of Origin |
Hmoob Cultural & Community Agency Blacksmith |
Subjects |
Tools |
Search Terms |
Hmong Made in La Crosse |
Notes |
Featured in Things that Matter: Behind the Hmong Cultural and Community Center in La Crosse is a small blacksmith shop. Inside this humble workshop, the tradition of Hmong blacksmithing is kept alive by master blacksmith Tong Khai Vang. The tradition of Hmong blacksmithing was brought to the La Crosse area from Laos in the latter half of the 20th century by Vang and others. During their time in the U.S., the Hmong people have made hundreds of tools and educated many in this ancient tradition that is continued through their work. In the corner of the shop is a can filled with scrap metal from which tools for a variety of purposes are created; whether they be gardening tools, kitchenware or ceremonial instruments, they are all created with the same care and respect as any piece of art, and rival the quality of machine-made tools available elsewhere in La Crosse. It is amazing how recycled truck springs, lawnmower blades and railway spikes can be reforged into tools of exceptional quality and rugged beauty. This is known as a bird knife because of the swooping point at the end of its spine, reminiscent of a bird’s tail as it is about to take off. It’s about 14 inches and has its own wooden sheath. It was created using a handmade forge and shaped on an anvil with hammers and tongs. It was then sharpened on a homemade bench with blocks of stone. There are no pieces of industrial equipment in the blacksmith shop, only handmade benches. Hours of hard work and generations of knowledge went into the creation of this knife, keeping traditional Hmong blacksmithing alive in the 21st century. This article was originally published in the La Crosse Tribune. Title: Hmong Bird Knife Author: James North Publish Date: November 21, 2015 |