Elaborately Decorated Sickle Blade
Bandia / Nsakara / Barombo / Benge, Central African Republic
Iron, wood, copper wire, flattened and twisted iron tape, leather
Late 19th century

This sickle knife stands out amongst its peers for its comparably small size, and its continuous rounded curve, as compared to similar blades of the Benge, Boa, and Ngbandi, which are larger and have a break in their curve. The elongated spur is a distinguishing trait of this type as well, as is the double-pierced stem above the handle. This older type is closer to the original functional weapon types, rather than the large examples that emerged later and were used more as prestige pieces (Elsen, The Sickle Weapons, Part 1, 1996).

Collected in 1950.

23 in :: 58 cm

InventoryID #13-1774

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