Exceptional wedding knife/dowry TETELA - DR Congo

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08
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Current bid
€ 100
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Dimitri André
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Selected by Dimitri André

Holds a postgraduate degree in African studies and 15 years experience in African art.

Estimate  € 400 - € 450
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€100
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Description from the seller

- Origin: Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Tribe name: TETELA
- Material: Red copper
- Dimensions (mm): 403x320x120
- Weight (g): 460
- Shipping method: Colissimo + Insurance

KNIVES/SCEPTRES TETELA (Red copper)

Very rare objects in their current state as they were made of copper and melted more easily than bronze or iron coins to create other objects.
Their various shapes (knife/longswords or simple figurative coins depicting a weapon such as a knife – reference to spear points of the same ethnicity – strength and power in war as in hunting) indicated that they were used for marriage dowries. The future groom did not “buy a wife” but presented a gift to the bride’s parents.
The double blades signified the union of the spouses. The double-bladed sceptres, even rarer, were mounted on a wooden or iron shaft and were carried by the fetishes during the ceremony and the consecration of this union.

- Origin: Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Tribe name: TETELA
- Material: Red copper
- Dimensions (mm): 403x320x120
- Weight (g): 460
- Shipping method: Colissimo + Insurance

KNIVES/SCEPTRES TETELA (Red copper)

Very rare objects in their current state as they were made of copper and melted more easily than bronze or iron coins to create other objects.
Their various shapes (knife/longswords or simple figurative coins depicting a weapon such as a knife – reference to spear points of the same ethnicity – strength and power in war as in hunting) indicated that they were used for marriage dowries. The future groom did not “buy a wife” but presented a gift to the bride’s parents.
The double blades signified the union of the spouses. The double-bladed sceptres, even rarer, were mounted on a wooden or iron shaft and were carried by the fetishes during the ceremony and the consecration of this union.

Details

Number of objects
1
Country of Origin
DR Congo
Period
Late 19th century
Material
Red copper
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Excellent condition
Title of artwork
Exceptional wedding knife/dowry TETELA
Height
40.3 cm
Width
12 cm
Depth
3.2 cm
Weight
460 g
Provenance
Private collection
Authenticity
Original/official
FranceVerified
190
Objects sold
100%
Private

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