I was trying to get this amazing Haussa takouba in a recent auction, but sadly the bids went too high for my young museum worker wallet
Well, I still have the pictures to console myself, and I thought I could share them with you, now that the auction is over.
It was described as a "touareg saber [sic]" in the auction, but I think we will agree that it is actually a very nice XIXth (second part ?) century Haussa takouba. I think the blade was locally made and exhibit some really interesting forging flaws/delamination, that could suggest forge welded edges (I don't really know how to say that in English, hope it's understandable ...).