Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ngombe chiefdom, ca. 19th to 20th century CE; Mangbetu or Zande peoples, ca. 19th to 20th century CE. A fine pair of iron weapons from central Africa. First is a planar Mangbetu throwing knife known with a slender handle, a phalliform blade protruding off the bottom, and a main, curved blade shaped like an elongated "3." The larger weapon is an Ngombe executioner's knife known as an ngulu with a wooden, spool-form handle, a tang bound in a lengthy strip of iron, and a massive blade with several nubbin tabs and a crescent-shaped blade. The surfaces of the blade are adorned with hundreds of petite impressions. Inscribed on one side of the blade head is the phrase, "No to," and on the opposite blade face is the phrase, "to MA." Size (ngulu): 6.875" W x 21" H (17.5 cm x 53.3 cm); (throwing knife): 15.75" W x 18.6" H (40 cm x 47.2 cm)

Provenance: private San Francisco, California, USA collection, acquired 1970s to 2000s

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#170959

Both pieces have light abrasions and light, age-commensurate oxidation, with inactive insect damage to wooden handle of ngulu, and softening to some impressed details on ngulu blade, otherwise intact and very good. Nice patina throughout.