Huge african ritual? sword
6 Attachment(s)
Hello dear members,
I just came back from holidays, I took with me these two items, an old north african whip with bone handle and a XXL african sword, really large and heavy, 70cm long I think its ritual ceremonial model, not a ''real'' blade but I think it's a genuine item and not too recent with brass or copper inlays in the blade and ivory hilt. Maybe a Congolese origin ? |
Hi
I love your sword, really nice patina on the ivory. It looks from Central Africa and geniune. Is it hippo ivory? One thing I'm sure, it's the pattern on the hilt: it is a cawrie's pattern. Very valuable shells in Africa Congrats |
Hello,
Thank you for your message, I don't know if the hilt is made with an hippo teeth, but likely , the hilt shape stay cylindrical, not conical at all... could this item be called '' traditional money'' ( I translate litterally ) more than a weapon like large spears heads, often used in Central Africa as money exchange, gift for a wedding... |
I guess that the hilt is from elephant ivory, hippo look different.
Regards, Detlef |
What is that imbedded near the tip? Looks kinda cool.
|
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Very nice sword and quite rare. I believe it to be a Songye prestige sword made in the late 19th C. The asongye people from the lower Congo basin are renowned for their metal working skills and craftsmanship. Regards Miguel |
4 Attachment(s)
Hello,
Thank you all for your comments ! Near the tip, it seems to be hammered copper brass nails ( on both side of the blade ) or maybe melted metal ( maybe gold :D :rolleyes:) I inserted too another picture of the hilt showing the ''inside'' visible part , find it interesting... Kind regards |
No Songye at all, even not central Africa.
You should look into West-Africa, Yoruba etc. |
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I am no African expert, far from it, but I like to look at them and do a little research. I have not found a similar west African weapon to the one in question aund so still think it is Songye and certainly a weapon of the Congo. |
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Hello all,
I too think, like Miguel and Kubur that the Congolese-central Africa origin is the most convincing hypothesis, Maybe from the Kuba people, I found these two large swords moreless look-like, One with a large spatula blade shape and ivory end on the hilt, the other one with ''nailed'' copper inserts PS: looking closer, I think more and more that the melted metal in ''my blade'' can be made of mixed gold, I have to test it (by a jeweler ? ) Kind regards |
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I think you may find that the blade has been drilled through and brass rods inserted then penned over like rivets to form the pattern . check the pattern to see if all the brass dots on one side have a corresponding brass dot on the other side and if this is the case then I am correct in my assumption. Also I feel the hilt may have lost its steel extension piece which would have been cemented into the hollow at the top of the hilt. Miguel |
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