Sickle Blade, béro
Ngombé, Doko, Mbudja, Ngbandi, D.R. Congo
Forged ron, wood, leather
Early 20th century

The béro was a functional tool and weapon that was also a symbol of prestige. Elsen describes this type: "the majority of examples of this type have such a small wooden grip that one had the impression that it only served to keep in place the protection for the hand." Interestingly, the strongly curved examples (such as this) are often attributed to the Nzakara (Elsen, The Sickle Weapons Part 1, 1996).

This piece exhibits the most extreme, nearly ninety-degree angled curve of the topbranch. If you strike this piece like a tuning fork, it plays an E.

 

20 in :: 51 cm

InventoryID #13-962

SOLD