Ivory Hilt Trumbash Knife

baatar108 · 25th October 2010, 04:20 PM

This is a very nice one. The characteristic Mangbetu sculptural ironwork in these is very conservative-the form is quite standardized. Ivory hilts are often seen. Much rarer are these same knives with solid copper blades.
The Mangbetu are a large group and were formerly quite powerful and had large,sophisticated courts. They had major influence and dominance over neighboring peoples and conducted substantial trade as well.Early European accounts are numerous and excellent sources for descriptions of Mangbetu culture. The entire region of the Congo was densely populated with a huge number of distinct cultures. The tribal arsenal is probably the most complex in Africa with a bewildering variety of uniquely shaped weapons. Many of the knife and sword types are of such unwieldy forms that they must have been intended as much for intimidation as actual warfare.
If we note from European sources that these trombash knives/scepters were seen only in the hands of powerful chieftains, it gives us an idea of how large a population the Mangbetu would have been. There are numerous old and legitimate examples of these knives on the market, so we can see the tribal hierarchy must have been widespread and wielded considerable power.

Ron Anderson · 25th October 2010, 11:09 PM

I am envious.

The knives and swords of the Congo were what got me into collecting ethnographic edged weapons some 25 years ago. I've never seen one of these with an ivory handle.

VANDOO · 26th October 2010, 03:23 AM

I HAVE ALWAYS FOUND THESE FACINATING. SO I WILL INCLUDE SOME PICTURES OF A FEW MORE FOR REFRENCE.

THE PHOTOGRAPH WAS TITLED PRINCE ZANDE.

baatar108 · 26th October 2010, 04:52 AM

Beaute Fatale: Armes d'Afrique Centrale
Bruxelles,1992
ISBN 2-87193-172-0
probably expensive as hell, but thank god for Interlibrary Loans!

Luc LEFEBVRE · 27th October 2010, 10:22 PM

You can find good examples in my book.

Lew · 27th October 2010, 10:48 PM

Luc

Was I correct on the age?

Luc LEFEBVRE · 28th October 2010, 10:48 PM

About 1930, yes. Like this one.

25th October 2010, 04:20 PM	#1
baatar108 Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: New Mexico-Santa Fe Posts: 9	Mangbetu knives This is a very nice one. The characteristic Mangbetu sculptural ironwork in these is very conservative-the form is quite standardized. Ivory hilts are often seen. Much rarer are these same knives with solid copper blades. The Mangbetu are a large group and were formerly quite powerful and had large,sophisticated courts. They had major influence and dominance over neighboring peoples and conducted substantial trade as well.Early European accounts are numerous and excellent sources for descriptions of Mangbetu culture. The entire region of the Congo was densely populated with a huge number of distinct cultures. The tribal arsenal is probably the most complex in Africa with a bewildering variety of uniquely shaped weapons. Many of the knife and sword types are of such unwieldy forms that they must have been intended as much for intimidation as actual warfare. If we note from European sources that these trombash knives/scepters were seen only in the hands of powerful chieftains, it gives us an idea of how large a population the Mangbetu would have been. There are numerous old and legitimate examples of these knives on the market, so we can see the tribal hierarchy must have been widespread and wielded considerable power.

26th October 2010, 03:23 AM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	I HAVE ALWAYS FOUND THESE FACINATING. SO I WILL INCLUDE SOME PICTURES OF A FEW MORE FOR REFRENCE. THE PHOTOGRAPH WAS TITLED PRINCE ZANDE. Attached Images

26th October 2010, 04:52 AM	#4
baatar108 Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: New Mexico-Santa Fe Posts: 9	best reference on Central African weapons Beaute Fatale: Armes d'Afrique Centrale Bruxelles,1992 ISBN 2-87193-172-0 probably expensive as hell, but thank god for Interlibrary Loans!

27th October 2010, 10:22 PM	#5
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 473	You can find good examples in my book. Attached Images

28th October 2010, 10:48 PM	#7
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 473	About 1930, yes. Like this one. Attached Images

25th October 2010, 11:09 PM	#2
Ron Anderson Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 228	I am envious. The knives and swords of the Congo were what got me into collecting ethnographic edged weapons some 25 years ago. I've never seen one of these with an ivory handle.

27th October 2010, 10:48 PM	#6
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Luc Was I correct on the age?