Ritual knife ·  D. R. Congo, Lega · ID: 3039653

Description

ivory, dark brown pigment in the deepenings, ornamentally decorated with typical circle ornament and cross hatching, slightly dam. (“blade tip”);
in addition to being used, along with other utensils, in the “skinning of the elephant” ceremony, small ivory knives are owned by people who have special rights, such as the authority to distribute sacred animal or to organize circumcision camps. Teachers may also be recognized with a gift of a small ivory knife.

The object Ritual knife with the object ID 3039653 was part of the auction 81st Tribal Art Auction on October 31, 2015. The object with the lot number 453 achieved a sales price of EUR 900 with an asking price of EUR 800.

Here you will find more objects and interesting facts about African art.

Comparing literature

Cameron, Elisabeth L., Art of the Lega, Los Angeles 2001, p. 94