Lot: 439

87th Tribal Art Auction

Ritual knife

D. R. Congo, Momvu

Provenance Size Starting price / estimated price
René David, Zurich, Switzerland H: 21.7 inch This object is not available anymore.

metal, wood, irregular shaped blade engraved on both sides, handle partly wrapped in wire, min. dam., slight traces of usage and abrasion.
Such knives are only rare to be found in private and museal collections and no one really knows what function they had. We are sure however, that both men and women, used to carry them alike. In spite of slight variations in the shape of the blade, the same disc-like design is always present.


Zirngibl, Manfred A., Seltene afrikanische Kurzwaffen, Grafenau 1983, p. 93, ill. 101