Huge african ritual? sword

[francantolin]

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 ?

[Kubur]

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

[francantolin]

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...

[Sajen]

I guess that the hilt is from elephant ivory, hippo look different.

Regards,
Detlef

[mross]

What is that imbedded near the tip? Looks kinda cool.

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by francantolin

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,

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

[francantolin]

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 )

I inserted too another picture of the hilt showing the ''inside'' visible part ,
find it interesting...

Kind regards

[Pieje]

No Songye at all, even not central Africa.
You should look into West-Africa, Yoruba etc.

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by Pieje

No Songye at all, even not central Africa.
You should look into West-Africa, Yoruba etc.

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.

[francantolin]

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

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by francantolin

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