Early 20th century. Iron, wood. Cm. 39,0 high (15.35"); weight: grams 548,0 (19.33 oz.). This sickle-shaped knife, although reminiscent of a throwing knife, was not used as a weapon but as a form of currency and as a symbol of rank among the Mangbetu people. The blade is of locally forged iron. It...
Circular form with punched, protruding raisings. Leather bound handle. Width 55 cm (21.65"). The region Amhara is extends over the ancient provinces of Bégemder, Godjam and includes a part of the ancient province of Wollo. The Amhara people speak about " the Amharic ", official language of Ethiopia. Amhara shields in former...
Iron, wood. cm. 41,2 high x cm. 7,4 width (16.22" x 2.91); weight: grams 105,0 (3.70 oz.). Prestige scepter like this, dating from the colonial period, have sometimes been used in major barter transactions. See tribal Arms monographs Volume 2 "Performing Knives and derivatives" of Christian Gosseau, Brussels 1997 Figs 87-88.
Leather, iron, wood. The piece is cm 44,5 in lenght (17,51"). The blade is cm. 27,5 high (10.82"). The Himba (or OvaHimba) are indigenous peoples living in northern Namibia, in the Kunene Region (formerly Kaokoland) and on the other side of the Kunene River in Angola. The Himba are considered the...
19th century. Bleached and incised oryx leather. Diameter cm. 34,3 (13.50″). The hide is bleached and incised with geometric patterns. Somali warriors carried an iron spear, a short sword called a belawa, and a shield called a gãschãn. These shields were bleached white. Typical small Somali shields are made from giraffe or oryx...
Iron, wood. cm. 66,5 high x cm. 10,7 width (26.18" x 4.21); weight: grams 188,2 (6.63 oz.). Prestige scepter like this, dating from the colonial period, have sometimes been used in major barter transactions. See tribal Arms monographs Volume 2 "Performing Knives and derivatives" of Christian Gosseau , Brussels 1997 Figs...
Giraffe skin, ostrich feather pompom, metal. Cm. 123 high x cm. 43 width (48.42" x 16.92"). Turkana warriors narrow shields are made of animal hide as well as from metal drums. Some have ostrich feather pompoms at the bottom, like this one. The Turkana are a Nilotic people native to the Turkana...
End 19th century - early 20th century. The piece is cm. 58,0 high x cm. 28,0 width (19.68″ x 12.99″); gr. 687,3 (24.70 oz.). This is a sceptre from Fali tribe (northern Cameroon). It's a prestige object also used as throwing knife or as currency. Sold
End 19th century - early 20th century. The piece is cm. 50,0 high x cm. 33,0 width (19.68″ x 12.99″); gr. 700,3 (24.70 oz.). For a similar example see "The Cutting Edge", by A.M. Schmidt & P. Westerdijk, pages 87-89. Sold
End 19th century - early 20th century. The piece is cm. 59,0 high x cm. 21,0 width (23.22″ x 8.26″); gr. 456,4 (16.09 oz.). The top part of the blade is pierced with a hole. There is a hoocklet just above the wooden handle. For a similar example see "The Cutting Edge", by A.M....
