Large Sickle Blade
Mongo: Ntomba / Kundu / Konda, D.R. Congo
Iron, wood
Early 20th century

This knife is clearly related to the Ngombe’s Ngulu sickle blade (often labeled executioner’s knives) from the D.R. Congo. Although articulated differently, we can see the related sickle shape, numerous points along the stem (although subtle here), and a handle with three distinct bulbs below the grip point. Like some Ngulu blades, this example is selectively blackened, and like all Ngulus, this piece is decorated on both sides. Jan Elsen hypothesized that this piece might originate from the Ntomba, Kundu, or Konda, which are all Mongo cultures (Pers. communication, April 2022).

There is a strikingly similar example in the collection of Ghent University, GE.1383. There are four pieces in the collection of the American Museum of Natural History with somewhat different blade designs (but still related to the curving sickle) but very similar handles. Those blades were all acquired by the museum in 1908 and are attributed to the “NGALA?”, which is another Mongo culture (90.0/ 5362, 90.0/ 5365, 90.0/ 5366, 90.0/ 5369).

25.25 in :: 64 cm

InventoryID #13-1993

SOLD