Found in someone's stable

Freddy · 17th July 2009, 08:52 PM

As I always say : there is still a lot to be found in Belgium. Numerous people had relatives who lived and worked in Congo when it was still a Belgian colony. When they returned to Belgium, almost all of them took with them some souvenirs. These could be masks, statues and of course....weapons.

Recently, I came in contact with an elderly man who told me he had some African arrows for sale. He couldn't send me pictures, but as he lives not to far from my place, I decided to pay him a visit this evening. I didn't know what to expect.

First he showed me a bunch of arrows in a quiver, probably originating from West-Africa. The arrows were a mixed bunch with several pieces from Congo (amongst them some Pygmee arrows).

Then he said he also had some 'machetes' and he wanted to know if I was interested, too. To my surprise he gave me : a Ngombe execution knife, a double execution knife (Lobala, Ngbaka, Bondjo), a Bandia or Boa sickle knife and last, but not least...an old Ngbaka throwing knife. There was also some smaller stuff like : a small knife, some arrowpoints and three spearheads.

This person got this 'ironwork' from his uncle who, at one time, lived in Congo. These items had been in his attic for a long time and were then moved to the stable. Some of the arrows were still packed in a newspaper dating from 1953 (That's older than me

). The person didn't know what to do with this stuff. He just wanted to get rid of them....and he found the right person

Here are some pics, I took when I got back home.

I'm planning to clean these weapons a little bit. I will show them when they are finished.

Sajen · 17th July 2009, 09:14 PM

Hi Freddy,
not my field, but a great find!

sajen

CourseEight · 17th July 2009, 09:16 PM

Outstanding! Congrats!

colin henshaw · 17th July 2009, 09:17 PM

Very nice ! like the Lobala knife with the two "arms"...

KuKulzA28 · 17th July 2009, 09:39 PM

Amazing, lucky you! Please do show us some nice pictures when they are cleaned!

Henk · 17th July 2009, 09:58 PM

I love stables and attics. Great find!! Lucky you!!

katana · 17th July 2009, 10:08 PM

Very nice Freddy,
its great when things like this happen

Regards David

Nathaniel · 18th July 2009, 12:52 AM

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing, Freddy....now I just wish something like this would happen to me...attic full of dha please! :P

Norman McCormick · 18th July 2009, 04:25 PM

Hi Freddy,
Fantastic group, as regards stable finds mine always fall somewhere between horse s--t and bull s--t !!!

My Regards,
Norman.

Freddy · 18th July 2009, 06:49 PM

Yes, I was lucky yesterday

All the items were rusty, but still in good order.

Here is the double execution knife from the Lobala, Ngbaka or Bondjo after gentle cleaning.

The Congolese name for such a sword is : Bango or Bwagogambanza. They were used as luxury weapons for notables and chiefs. The Europeans saw in the form of these blades the representation of a person, with 'arms' and the small circle of dots as 'nipples'.

The blade shows an incised pattern on both sides. On one of the photos, you can also see the 'nipples', just at the beginning of the 'arms'.

The handle is somewhat small (for my hand, anyway) and made out of wood. At the bottom it's embellished with some nails. There's also a metal 'loop' which goes through the handle. As far as I can see, it's the original one. There is some insect damage (small holes), but it's treated.

Measurements :

Total length : 60 cm
length of handle : approx. 12 cm
width of the arms : 21,5 cm
width of blade : 6,2 cm

17th July 2009, 08:52 PM	#1
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Found in someone's stable As I always say : there is still a lot to be found in Belgium. Numerous people had relatives who lived and worked in Congo when it was still a Belgian colony. When they returned to Belgium, almost all of them took with them some souvenirs. These could be masks, statues and of course....weapons. Recently, I came in contact with an elderly man who told me he had some African arrows for sale. He couldn't send me pictures, but as he lives not to far from my place, I decided to pay him a visit this evening. I didn't know what to expect. First he showed me a bunch of arrows in a quiver, probably originating from West-Africa. The arrows were a mixed bunch with several pieces from Congo (amongst them some Pygmee arrows). Then he said he also had some 'machetes' and he wanted to know if I was interested, too. To my surprise he gave me : a Ngombe execution knife, a double execution knife (Lobala, Ngbaka, Bondjo), a Bandia or Boa sickle knife and last, but not least...an old Ngbaka throwing knife. There was also some smaller stuff like : a small knife, some arrowpoints and three spearheads. This person got this 'ironwork' from his uncle who, at one time, lived in Congo. These items had been in his attic for a long time and were then moved to the stable. Some of the arrows were still packed in a newspaper dating from 1953 (That's older than me ). The person didn't know what to do with this stuff. He just wanted to get rid of them....and he found the right person Here are some pics, I took when I got back home. I'm planning to clean these weapons a little bit. I will show them when they are finished.

17th July 2009, 10:08 PM	#7
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Very nice Freddy, its great when things like this happen Regards David Last edited by katana; 18th July 2009 at 12:56 AM.

18th July 2009, 06:49 PM	#10
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	The double Lobala execution knife Yes, I was lucky yesterday All the items were rusty, but still in good order. Here is the double execution knife from the Lobala, Ngbaka or Bondjo after gentle cleaning. The Congolese name for such a sword is : *Bango* or *Bwagogambanza*. They were used as luxury weapons for notables and chiefs. The Europeans saw in the form of these blades the representation of a person, with 'arms' and the small circle of dots as 'nipples'. The blade shows an incised pattern on both sides. On one of the photos, you can also see the 'nipples', just at the beginning of the 'arms'. The handle is somewhat small (for my hand, anyway) and made out of wood. At the bottom it's embellished with some nails. There's also a metal 'loop' which goes through the handle. As far as I can see, it's the original one. There is some insect damage (small holes), but it's treated. Measurements : Total length : 60 cm length of handle : approx. 12 cm width of the arms : 21,5 cm width of blade : 6,2 cm

17th July 2009, 09:14 PM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	Hi Freddy, not my field, but a great find! sajen

17th July 2009, 09:16 PM	#3
CourseEight Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Coral Springs, FL Posts: 222	Outstanding! Congrats!

17th July 2009, 09:17 PM	#4
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	Very nice ! like the Lobala knife with the two "arms"...

17th July 2009, 09:39 PM	#5
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	Amazing, lucky you! Please do show us some nice pictures when they are cleaned!

17th July 2009, 09:58 PM	#6
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	I love stables and attics. Great find!! Lucky you!!

18th July 2009, 12:52 AM	#8
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Beautiful! Thanks for sharing, Freddy....now I just wish something like this would happen to me...attic full of dha please! :P

18th July 2009, 04:25 PM	#9
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,597	Hi Freddy, Fantastic group, as regards stable finds mine always fall somewhere between horse s--t and bull s--t !!! My Regards, Norman.