Balingbwa Dagger with Long Cone Pommel
Tetela, D.R. Congo
Copper
Early 20th century

This Tetela dagger comes from the collection of Corneel De Vleeschouwer, from Antwerp, Belgium. When the auction house Lempertz sold his collection, they included this description of him:

"Corneel De Vleeschouwer was born in Antwerp into a family of modest means. He trained as a chef and at the end of the 1950s started work on the Congo boats of the CMB (Compagnie Maritime Belge) making regular trips between Antwerp and the Belgian Congo. It was during these trips to Africa that his interest in African art developed. His particular interest in African iron weapons would lead him to train as a blacksmith” (Lempertz, Auktion 1218 - The Art of Africa, the Pacific and the Americas, 10 May 2023, page 99). 

Knives of this type exhibit sophistication, balance, and precision. They were worn by adult men, placed under their belt, without a sheath. Below the handle, baligbwa daggers typically have either a long metal cone, a solid counterweight, or a loop (Elsen, De Fer et De fierté, 2003). 

The Tetela are not organised into a state with a central leader. They are divided into many independent communities, each composed of a number of lineages descended from a common male anscestor. These groups are governed by hereditary chiefs kokolomani, through a prime minister nyampara, who in turn directs subchiefs and village heradmen. Some political chiefs are female (Felix, 100 Peoples of Zaire and Their Sculpture, 1987). 

19.25 in :: 49 cm

InventoryID #13-2729

SOLD