Epée royale "ilwoon" ou "ilondo" dans étui en raphia · R. D. Congo, Kuba-Bushoong · ID: 3045902
Description
steel, wood, handle with richly punched copper sheet cladding (small missing part), raffia sheath with velvet embroidery (“Kasai plush”)
The blade is inserted into the handle with resin-like putty. Cowry snails are pressed into the mass and an animal claw is inserted on each side.
Originally these swords were used as a weapon of war. However, after the colonial system stopped the fights between the tribes, this classic type of sword knife was converted and used as a status weapon and dance utensil.
Littérature comparée
Zirngibl, Manfred A. & Alexander Kubetz, Panga na visu, Riedlhütte 2009, p. 209, ill. 501