Ornate Scarification Knife
Wangata, D.R. Congo
Iron
19th century

This 19th century miniature blade served a number of purposes as a tool and a fashion accessory. The long, thin handle could be thrust into the hair, leaving the top piece to be displayed for style. The sharp razor was used for shaping and cutting hair and cutting the skin to produce patterns of cicatrisation (scarification) or keloids (raised individual marks). In addition the inherent value of iron, the specialized form of this hairpin-razor gave it meaning and reflected a woman's status. Indeed, Sieber wrote that some women "without one or more razors in her hair would not be considered completely dressed" (African Textiles and Decorative Arts, 1972).

Although the most frequently stated purpose of scarification "was to beautify and to eroticize," scarification extended into many other realms of understanding (Nooter & Roberts, Memory, Luba Art, and the Making of History, 1996). Among various central African cultures, the widespread practice of scarification was considered to be part of the social process, indicating an individual's affiliation with a community or cultural group, or membership in a male or female secret initiatory society. Scarification marks indicated a person's rank and social status or could indicate one's marital status, or whether or not a woman had borne children. In addition to specific social, ritual, or symbolic roles, scarification could be also viewed as an aesthetic activity to beautify oneself and enhance an erotic sensibility (Dr. Daniel Mato, Professor Emeritus of Art History, The University of Calgary, pers. Communication, 2009).

Among the Luba (who called these blades Lusimbo), scarification blades were also bound or forged together to make iron bow stands to hold a chief's bow, known as Nsakakabemba (Nooter & Roberts, Memory: Luba Art and the Making of History, 1996).

This blade comes from the collection of Alex Van Opstal and was collected between 1902 and 1910. A closely related Wangata scarification knife was illustrated in Lindblom, African Razors, 1943 (Fig. 16). 

The photograph of a scarification blade in its original context is reproduced from De Waele & Lefebvre, Couteaux de Scarifications Du Congo, 2007 and is © Danny De Waele.

Published: 100 African Blades, no. 78 (Rider, 2021). 

9.5 in :: 23.5 cm

InventoryID #13-1589

Not For Sale