Ceremonial Sword
Mpamba / Nkundu / Sengele / Tumba, D.R. Congo
Iron, wood
Early 20th century

In the region of Lakes Tumba and Maï-Ndombe, the Tumba, Mpama, and Sengele peoples have a rather characteristic way of forging their blades, expressed by a series of small incised lines as seen here. These knives were used as symbols of dignity by leaders and chiefs, and as dance knives for women (Gosseau, Tribal Arms Monographs Vol. 1 No. 2, 1997; Zirngibl & Kubetz, Panga Na Visu, 2009).

This piece is unusual because in addition to the small incisions that adorn every inch of the blade, there are larger, more crude incisions added near the top of both sides of the blade. Additionally, it is clear that only one side of the blade was maintained. This could allude to its significance as a ceremonial object (where only one side was needed to be displayed), but could also simply be the result of only one side being restored later in Europe. 

19.75 :: 50 cm

InventoryID #13-2924

Price on Request