Spearhead Knife
Lokele, D.R. Congo
Iron, wood, vegetal fiber, brass, copper
19th century

This rare sword-knife comes from the Lokele, who live in the area where the Lomami and Aruwimi Rivers flow into the Congo River. According to old reports, it was also occasionally seen among the Tetela and Soko. The upper segment of the handle wrapped with iron and brass tape is reminiscent of Ngombe ornamental knives, whereas the bottom segment covered in braided fiber is similar to Ngbandi weapons. The deep longitudinal grooves on the blade point to a kinship in design with Zande weapons.

In his “Prometheus” article from 1901, Leo Frobenius wrote that this type of weapon originated from the lower Aruwimi River. As he pointed out, the knife and spear blades from this region had an almost identical shape (Frobenius, Afrikanische Messer, 1901; Zirngibl, Seltene Afrikanische Kurzwaffen (Rare African Short Weapons), 1983). 

29 in :: 74 cm

InventoryID #13-2355

Price on Request