Chieftain's knife ·  D. R. Congo, Lobala · ID: 3035909

Description

metal, wood, broad blade, split in two half-circles, the wooden handle wrapped in brass stripes, engraved on both sides, slight traces of corrosion, base;
a human figure with raised arms recognizable. Based on the painstakingly done engravings on the blade and the abundant windings on the handle it can be said that the knife was definitely not used as a weapon despite its shapened cutting edge but rather as a cheiftain’s insignia or a symbol of rank.

The object Chieftain’s knife with the object ID 3035909 was last part of the auction 75th tribal art auction at November 30, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 414.

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Comparing literature

Zirngibl, Manfred A., Seltene afrikanische Kurzwaffen, Grafenau 1983, p. 107, ill. 121