Sickle-Shaped Blade
Nzombo / Lobala / Ngbaka / Mbanja, D.R. Congo
Iron, wood, leather, vegetal fiber
19th century

This sickle weapon was produced by the Nzombo, Lobala, Ngbaka, and perhaps the Mbanja. This type is distinctive for its S-shape, its thick back edge (on the right, here scalloped), the absence of a spur, and its small, curved wooden handle. Most examples have a leather wrap above the wood handle (also seen here), which Elsen describes as functioning to protect the hand. According to Elsen, they were also found among the Ngombe, Ngbandi, Ngiri, and Ngbundu (Tribal Arms Monographs, Vol. 1 No. 1, 1996).  

Collected by Alexovi Lenain from Farciennes, Belgium. Lenain worked in D.R. Congo for the Compagnie du Kasai 1906-09, and 1910-12.

25.5 in :: 65 cm

InventoryID #13-3040

Price on Request