Spear
Bira (Babira), Northeastern D.R. Congo
Iron, pyrographed wood
Early 20th century

This spear has a tip with selectively blackened iron and a prominently raised central ridge. The wood shaft is pyrographed in an extensive coil shape. The shoe is solid iron. 

While is is likely this spear originated from the Bira, it could reasonably be attributed to a neighboring or related culture. The pyrographed wood is typical of cultures in northeastern D.R. Congo.  

The Bira inhabit the forest region along the Ituri River (Wiethase, Bows, Arrows, and Spears of Africa, 2022).  

70.5 in :: 179 cm

InventoryID #13-2553

SOLD