Prestige Blade with Two Curved Tips
Lia / Sengele, D.R. Congo
Iron, wood, brass
Early 20th century

This knife served as an insignia of rank and has been described as a 'luxury weapon.' It was primarily the prerogative of western Mongo groups who lived east of the Congo River near the equator, such as the Lia, Nkundu, and Ekonda. What distinguishes knives of those groups and the piece presented here are the deeply-cut incisions (Gosseau, Tribal Art Monographs Vol 1/No. 2, 1997). 

Ex. Werner Kißling (1952-2020), Heltersberg, Germany

20 in :: 51 cm

InventoryID #13-2799

SOLD