Knife - well - Banda/Mbugbu - DR Congo

"Ondo" Banda/Mbugbu knife
Democratic Republic of the Congo/Central African Republic
Total height: 41 cm
Materials: wrought iron, plant fibers
Period: early 20th century (possibly late 19th century)
Provenance: Swedish auction house; ex collection Mats Sigelfeldt – Sweden; ex collection Luc Lefebvre – France

The 19th century, marked by turmoil, long migrations and inter-tribal wars, led to the Banda, formerly united, dispersing over a vast geographic area, divided into small independent populations speaking about fifty distinct dialects. Likewise, Banda weapons show a great diversity of styles, often radically diverging from traditional aesthetics.

Banda knives were historically reserved for military use (to stop the advance of an enemy force, for example), but their function evolved after the 1920s to include peaceful and spiritual objectives, such as instruments of ritual dance. This metamorphosis is the combined result of the decline of conflicts in the 20th century and the Banda’s enduring emotional attachment to their throwing knives (Westerdijk, The African Throwing Knife, 1988).

This type of knife is not common and is highly sought after. Its raffia fiber grip, still partly present, shows that this knife is very old. A very fine throwing knife with excellent provenance for collectors and connoisseurs...

Can, at the bidder’s request, be sold with the invoice from the Swedish auction house Crafoord Auktioner – Lund (Sweden)

Delivery insured – Bpost.