Huge african ritual? sword
 

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.

Hi,

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

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.

:eek:
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.

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

Hi,

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