Double-Bladed Ceremonial Sword, Ngulu
Ngombe, Northwestern D.R. Congo
Forged iron, iron wrap, wood
First half of the 20th century

Despite the sharp cutting edges on the outside of the two arching blades, beautiful swords of this double-Ngulu type (also known as Bango or Bwagogambanza) were designed primarily as emblems of rank, and were carried by men of authority on public occasions. This double- Ngulu blade was often described as representing either a human with arms raised, or female genitalia, but neither attribution originates from African sources (Blackmun, B., & Hautelet, J., Blades of Beauty and Death, 1990; Gosseau, C., Tribal Arts Monographs Vol. 1 No. 2, 1997).

20 in :: 51 cm

InventoryID #13-1029

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