Curved Prestige Sword
Baule, Ivory Coast
Iron, brass
Late 19th / early 20th century

Baule prestige blades were renowned for their balanced, harmonious design, expert forging, and lavish decoration. To increase their potency, these weapons were subjected to a sacrificial consecration on the anvil by the blacksmith, in the presence of the customer.

This type, which wears a crown atop the handle and displays subtle asymetry on its long blade is a well-documented style, however, very little has been written about it (Elsen, De fer et de fierté, 2003; Zirngibl, "Rare African Short Weapons," 1983).

Most examples of this type have an iron blade and rosetta composed of a single piece of iron, with and handle added on top of the iron. This example is different and unusual in that the entire handle with elaborate openwork is composed of lost-wax cast bronze. 

In a 1930s photograph by Hans Himmelheber, a Baule man wields a sword of this type. The photo caption reads "Entrance of warriors in Kondena" (Museum Rietberg Zürich, Die Kulture der Baule, 1997). 

21.25 in :: 54 cm

InventoryID #13-1702

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