Short Sword
Mongo, D.R. Congo
Iron, wood, copper
19th century

The Mongo are a large complex of linguistically-related tribes living mostly in the rainforests of the northwestern D.R. Congo. Mongo groups include the Nkutshu, Hamba, Tetela, Mbole, Sengele, Ntomba, Ekonda, and Kundu, among others.

With the exception of knives borrowed from neighboring cultures, the Mongo don’t use throwing knives or sickle knives; they primarily use short swords and axes. There is great diversity in the in the different models of short swords used, from the simplest to the most elaborate; from functional to purely symbolic.

This knife, with its considerable size and heft, features a handle wrapped with extremely thick copper coils. It is practically a unique piece, although a somewhat comparable example (pictured below) was published in 1901; another example was published in Rider, 100 African Blades, 2021 (Elsen, De fer et de fierté, 2003; Frobenius, Afrikanische Messer, 1901). 

18.75 in :: 47.5 cm

InventoryID #13-2057

SOLD