Knife - well - Banda/Mbugbu - DR Congo

• Banda/ Mbugbu "ondo" knife

• Democratic Republic of the Congo / Central African Republic

• Max height: 41 cm

• Materials: wrought iron, plant fibers

• Period: end of the 19th / beginning of the 20th century

• Weight: 233 g

• Provenance: Luc Lefebvre Collection, France; Swedish auction house; ex collection Mats Sigelfeldt - Sweden

— The 19th century, marked by turmoil, long migrations and inter-tribal wars, resulted in the Banda, once united, dispersing over a vast geographic area, dividing into small independent populations and ultimately speaking around fifty distinct dialects. Likewise, Banda weapons exhibit a great diversity of styles, often radically diverging from traditional aesthetics.

— Banda knives were historically reserved for military use (to halt the advance of an enemy force, for example), but their function evolved after the 1920s to include peaceful and spiritual purposes, 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 lasting emotional connection with their throwing knives (Westerdijk, The African Throwing Knife, 1988).

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

— Sold with the invoice from the auction house Crafoord Auktioner - Lund, Sweden.
(document PDF)

— Carefully packaged, insured delivery with tracking number.