AN EXCELLENT SONGYE-NSAPO ADZE

[Flavio]

Dear friends, i'm happy to show you my last acquisition: an extraordinary Songye-Nsapo (or as Spring says TETELA) Adze. All comments are welcome :)

[Justin]

Very cool,congrats! Very interesting weapon,not often that we get to see adzes the long blade looks kind of awkward,is this more of a ceremonial/dance item or what?

[Flavio]

Hello Justin. I think that this kind of object is only ceremonial and a status symbol for peoples of elevated social class. Thank you :)

[Conogre]

I'd tend to think that this one is almost entirely a status/rank related piece, such as would be carried by a chief or someone of extremely high rank, particularly designated by a chief for use in royal processions or courts than in a ceremonial/dance context.
While adzes are traditionally thought of primarily as tools, I don't think that there's any disputing that more practical forms were pressed into use as weapons at least occasionally if not regularly, and seemed to reach a symbolic level of power in Africa found nowhere else in the world.
That is probably one of the most beautiful examples that I've ever seen...congratulations on an exceptional aquisition!
Mike

[Freddy]

Very nice find, Flavio. Truly a museum piece. :)

[Flavio]

Hello Mike, i'm agree with you completely. Thank you very much to you and Freddy :)