Knife - well - Banda/Mbugbu - DR Congo

• "ondo" Banda/Mbugbu knife

• Democratic Republic of the Congo/Central African Republic

• Max height: 41 cm

• Materials: wrought iron, plant fibers

• Period: late 19th/early 20th century

• Provenance: Swedish auction house; formerly in Mats Sigelfeldt collection - Sweden; formerly in Luc Lefebvre collection - France

— The 19th century, marked by turmoil, long migrations and inter-tribal wars, resulted in the Banda, once united, dispersing over a wide geographic area, dividing into small independent populations and eventually speaking about fifty distinct dialects. Similarly, Banda weapons show a great diversity of styles, often diverging radically 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 people’s lasting 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 partially present raffia fiber grip demonstrates that this knife is very old. A very beautiful throwing knife with excellent provenance for collectors and connoisseurs ...

— Sold with the invoice from Crafoord Auktioner - Lund (Sweden)

— Careful, insured delivery with tracking number. (Bpost)