Rare pair of Mangbetu / Momvu prestige knives, incl. 'Trumbash' - DRC Congo - ca. 1900-1950. [DIMENSIONS]Largest knife (Trumbash): 29 cm height x 9 cm widthSmallest knife (Mambele): 26 cm height x 6 cm width[DESCRIPTION]A beautiful and authentic pair of African prestige or dance knives from the Uele region in the northeast of Congo. The lot includes a classic Mangbetu 'Trumbash' (29x9 cm) featuring the characteristic square pierced hole near the tip and the iconic spurs at the base of the blade. The second knife is a beautifully forged 'Mambele' sickle knife (26x6 cm) with an asymmetric blade and a distinct midrib.Both knives retain their highly sought-after, hand-carved wooden handles. The grip of the Trumbash features an incised X-motif and a central wire binding. The knives also show an interesting variation in the design of their pommels: the round knife ends in a round star-shaped base, while the Trumbash features a square pommel with notched edges. The grips are richly decorated with a two-tone binding of precious brass and iron wire, highlighting the high status of the original owner.[CONDITION]In very good, original tribal condition. Beautiful untouched patina on the iron. Solid construction with the normal, minimal shrinkage of the wood due to age. No restorations or modern glue residues.