Knife / Currency – Metal, Wood – Ekonda – Congo

Description

Beautiful knife from the Ekonda tribe of D.R. Congo.
Very nice specimen with great patina!
Knives, axes, currency blades and spears, all made of forged iron, attest to the skills in metal of the Kuba and related peoples of central Africa. Most exhibit an inventive variety of form and workmanship far beyond what was functionally necessary.
It was also used as a means of exchange: ” Currency”. The owner of this item was given some form of social status.

Object

Knife / Currency

Ethnic group:

Ekonda

Country:

DR Congo

Material:

Wood, Metal

Estimated period:

Second half 20th century

Sold with stand:

No

Dimensions:

48x21x5 cm

Weight:

450 gram

Condition:

Good condition, used with some signs of wear

Reserve: $150.00

Shipping:

Domestic: Flat-rate of $45.00 to anywhere within the contiguous U.S.

International: Foreign shipping rates are determined by destination. International shipping may be subject to VAT.

Combined shipping: Please ask about combined shipping for multiple lots before bidding.

Location: This item ships from The Netherlands

Your purchase is protected:
In the rare event that the item did not conform to the lot description in the sale, Chairish Auctions specialists are here to help. Buyers may return the item for a full refund provided you notify Chairish Auctions within 5 days of receiving the item.

Buyer's Premium

20%

Knife / Currency – Metal, Wood – Ekonda – Congo

Lot 0368

Estimate $200-$250

Mar 4, 2026, 6:07 PM EST

Starting Price

Secure

$75

1 bidder is watching this item

LiveAuctioneers Purchase Protection

Vetted auction houses

Secure, online bidding

Returns guaranteed for misrepresented listings

Dedicated support when you need it

Decorative Tribal Art Sale

Feb 26, 2026 1:00 PM EST

New York, NY, United States

Power Figure – Wood, Horn, Beads – Songye – Congo: Authentic Songye power figure from DR Congo. Stylistic wooden ancestor figure of the SONGYE tribe from D.R. Congo. It served to protect the family against diseases, accidents, bad spirits and

Power Figure – Wood, Horn, Beads – Songye – Congo

Mask – Wood – Ibibio – Nigeria: Powerful Ibibio mask from Nigeria. The mask is made from wood and covered phembe (white clay). Good condition with traces of tribal use. The Ibibio people live in an area between the Delta an the

Mask – Wood – Ibibio – Nigeria

Head – Wood – Hemba – Congo DRC: Superb head, imposing, which exudes an impression of majesty and serenity. The Hemba people live in eastern Congo DRC, between the Lualaba River (Congo River) to the west and Lake Tanganyka to the

Head – Wood – Hemba – Congo DRC

Initiation mask – Wood – Bembe – DR Congo: Beautiful zoomorphic mask from the BEMBE tribe, former Belgian Congo. This type of mask were worn during the initiation proces. In Bwami society during circumcision ceremonies, flat face masks are

Initiation mask – Wood – Bembe – DR Congo

Terracotta Head – Koma Bulsa – Ghana: In the 1980s, the first figurines of this style were found in fired clay in the Upper West Region of Ghana, in the area now inhabited by the Koma (e.g. in Yikpabongo, Tantuosi, Wumobri) and the Bulsa

Terracotta Head – Koma Bulsa – Ghana

Ancestor Figure – Wood – Nepal: Great standing wooden ancestor figure from Nepal. Wood, covered with red pigment, standing with in the namaste gesture of greeting and protection. Ancestor figures were placed on family shrines.

Ancestor Figure – Wood – Nepal

Featured

Ladder – Wood – Dogon – Mali: Ancient ladder from the Dogon tribe of Mali. The ladders are a simple, abstract, intelligent use of materials. Carved from a naturally forked tree, indoor versions wear to a smooth glossy finish while

Ladder – Wood – Dogon – Mali

Sling shot – Wood – Baule – Ivory Coast: Fine wooden sling shot from the Baule tribe of Ivory Coast, The handle has been carved as a human face. This sling shot shows great sign of use: it has a lustrous honey-coloured patina and contours ro

Sling shot – Wood – Baule – Ivory Coast

Gong Currency – Jonga – DR Congo: Like many pieces of traditional African metalwork, this gong served multiple purposes in the tribe. It was a ceremonial instrument, a status symbol, and a piece of currency. Using a rubber coated stic

Gong Currency – Jonga – DR Congo

Flute – Wood – Lobi – Burkina Faso: Old Lobi flute from Burkina Faso. Flutes were used across sub-Saharan Africa in as many different ways as their forms were varied: individually or in groups, e.g. as a signalling instrument, as a mean

Flute – Wood – Lobi – Burkina Faso

Nkisi Figure – Wood- Yombe – Congo: Very complete Nkisi fetish figure from the Yombe tribe of DR Congo. A Nkisi refers to the spiritual nature of the figure where nkondi refers to the power of the figure itself. Spiritual and religious

Nkisi Figure – Wood- Yombe – Congo

Ancestor figure – Wood – Hemba – DR Congo: Large serene Hemba figure from DR Congo. Total height 58 cm and 6500 gram. Usually representing spirits or ancestors , these figures, male or female, exhibit a timeless, serene quality important to

Ancestor figure – Wood – Hemba – DR Congo

African Art large decorative chief figure TSHOKWE Chokwe statue ANGOLA: Very beautiful decorative chief figure - TSHOKWE Chokwe tribe - ANGOLA The sculpture is typical of the tribe, large hands, figure seated on a folding chair Wood, metal, glass DIMENSIONS: 51 cm (About

African Art large decorative chief figure TSHOKWE Chokwe statue ANGOLA

Ghurra – Wood – Nepal: A ‘ghurra’ keeps the churning-rod on its place during the churning of the milk. The Hindu and Buddhist Nepali beliefs in the myth that ‘man & woman’ were created after the

Ghurra – Wood – Nepal

Sling shot – Wood – Baule – Ivory Coast: Fine wooden sling shot from the Baule tribe of Ivory Coast, The handle has been carved as a human face. This sling shot shows great sign of use: it has a lustrous honey-coloured patina and contours

Sling shot – Wood – Baule – Ivory Coast

Reliquary – Copper, Wood – Mahongwe – Bakota – Gabon: Gorgeous, tribally used, reliquary statue of a guardian. It played an important role in rituals concerning the ancestors. The worship of ancestors is at the heart of religious and social life of the

Reliquary – Copper, Wood – Mahongwe – Bakota – Gabon

Bowl-barrier Figure – Wood – Luba / Zela – Congo DRC: Ex Zemanek-Münster Provenance: Justin Barthels (Maastricht, NL) Beautiful light wooden Luba / Zela figure from DR Cong. The statues representing a woman with a cup, whatever the position

Bowl-barrier Figure – Wood – Luba / Zela – Congo DRC

Figure – Sepik – Papua New Guinea: Old wooden figure from Sepik, Papua New Guinea. Good condition with clear traces of wear and tear and a wonderfull patina of age. Provenance: former private German collection. The figure is

Figure – Sepik – Papua New Guinea

Power Figure – Wood – Bembe – DR Congo: Great refined ancestor figure with child on his back from the Babembe people of DR Congo. Good aged patina with beautifull scarifications on the body. The function of Bembe art is said to be

Power Figure – Wood – Bembe – DR Congo

Maternity figure – Bronze – Fon – Benin: Beautiful bronze maternity figure from the Fon people of Benin. Provenance: Manfred Schäfer collection, ex- gallery owner from Ulm, Germany. Including custom made stand. Object: Bronze figure

Maternity figure – Bronze – Fon – Benin

Related Items

Antique Parrying Sword or Long Dagger: Antique Parrying Sword or Long Dagger This is an antique parrying dagger or main gauche typically used in the left hand for defense while using a sword in the right. For this lot shipping can be done

2 days LeftAntique Parrying Sword or Long Dagger

Khandjar Type Iron Dagger: 19th century A.D. The lentoid-section blade curved with a narrow point, the hilt comprising a wooden grip with reserved and hatched median collar; heart-shaped pommel; decorative iron studs. Cf. Lebed

5 days LeftKhandjar Type Iron Dagger

Luristan Bronze Dagger Blade: 800-600 B.C. With a triangular blade fitted with three fullers, with a handle cast onto the blade, showing three fastening holes. See Khorasani, M.M., Lexicon of Arms and Armour from Iran. A Study of

5 days LeftLuristan Bronze Dagger Blade

AN AFRICAN KUBA CARVED WOOD AND IRON PRESTIGE KNIFE, KENYA: This ethnographic implement, identified as a Kuba style prestige knife, features a hand-forged iron blade and a dark, carved wooden hilt. The hilt is sculpted into a figurative human head characterize

6 days LeftAN AFRICAN KUBA CARVED WOOD AND IRON PRESTIGE KNIFE, KENYA

African Saka / Mongo DRC Knife. Iron, wood, fibers.: IN HOUSE FLAT SHIPPING & HANDLING COST WITHIN ALL THE U.S. : $18 To bypass LiveShipping, and use our In-House shipping service for $18 or shipping combined for multiple lots, please select “Arrange

2 days LeftAfrican Saka / Mongo DRC Knife. Iron, wood, fibers.

Flute – Wood – Lobi – Burkina Faso: Old Lobi flute from Burkina Faso. Flutes were used across sub-Saharan Africa in as many different ways as their forms were varied: individually or in groups, e.g. as a signalling instrument, as a mean

Flute – Wood – Lobi – Burkina Faso

Featured

Ladder – Wood – Dogon – Mali: Ancient ladder from the Dogon tribe of Mali. The ladders are a simple, abstract, intelligent use of materials. Carved from a naturally forked tree, indoor versions wear to a smooth glossy finish while

Ladder – Wood – Dogon – Mali

Luristan Bronze Spearhead: 1200-1100 B.C. With an ovate blade, central rib and curved shoulders, the lozenge-section long shaft tapering towards the end, a rectangular tang with a bent tip. Cf. Khorasani, M.M., Arms and Armour

5 days LeftLuristan Bronze Spearhead

CONFEDERATE D-GUARD BOWIE KNIFE.: 18" overall, meaty 13" upswept cocked clip point blade, .35" thick at ricasso, wide beveled top edge, turned wood grip, sculptured tapered D-guard with teardrop shaped quillon. CONDITION: very good ov

1 day LeftCONFEDERATE D-GUARD BOWIE KNIFE.

Tibetan Gilt Bronze Ritual Kartika Knife: 20th century A.D. With swept lunate blade connected to the baluster handle by the gaping jaws of a serpent; four-arched vajra finial. 1.52 kg, 33.4 cm (13 1/8 in.). Private collection, UK. TimeLine Au

Mar 07, 2026Tibetan Gilt Bronze Ritual Kartika Knife

U.S. Model 1855 .58 Caliber Socket Bayonet w/ Scabbard: Original Civil War-era U.S. Model 1855 socket bayonet for the .58 caliber Springfield rifle-musket, compatible with the Models 1855, 1861, and 1863, featuring a triangular-section blade with deep full

Mar 07, 2026U.S. Model 1855 .58 Caliber Socket Bayonet w/ Scabbard

MASSIVE CONFEDERATE D-GUARD BOWIE KNIFE.: 21.25" overall, 16.5" clip point blade, .14" thick at ricasso, 2" wide at ricasso, "1745" painted or marked on either side of blade of unknown meaning, full tang. CONDITION: good overall, blade sharpe

1 day LeftMASSIVE CONFEDERATE D-GUARD BOWIE KNIFE.

Related Searches

Metal Weapons & ArmorWood Weapons & ArmorMetal CollectiblesWood CollectiblesPrice ResultsAuctions in New York

TOP