Prestige / Ceremonial Double Sickle Sword
Teke, Rep. of Congo / D.R. Congo
Iron, wood, brass, copper
Early 20th century

In the region of Lakes Tumba and Maï-Ndombe, the Tumba, Mpama, and Sengele peoples manufactured double sickle blades with a rather characteristic way texturing the surface of the blade with a series of small incised lines. Further south live the Teke, who made very similar double sickle blades, but instead decorated the surface of the iron with deep parallel incised lines, as seen here. These knives were used as symbols of dignity by leaders and chiefs, and as dance knives (Gosseau, Tribal Arms Monographs Vol. 1 No. 2, 1997; Zirngibl & Kubetz, Panga Na Visu, 2009).

21 in :: 53.5 cm

InventoryID #13-2065

SOLD