19th century. Bleached and incised leather. Diameter cm. 30,5 (12.01″). The hide is incised with geometric patterns. Somali warriors carried an iron spear, a short sword called a belawa, and a shield called a gãschãn. Typical small Somali shields are made from giraffe or oryx and are concealed with concentric circles and...
Early to mid 20th century. Iron, leather. Cm. 56,0 in length (22.05"); the blade is cm 35,0 in lenght (13.78"). The Yaka are an African ethnic group found in southwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo, with Angola border to their west. Their oral tradition states that they migrated northwest into their current...
Old Seme Knife in a red scabbard. Mid 20th century. Steel blade, red hide scabbard. Cm. 51,0 in length (20.08"); the blade is cm. 37,5 in lenght (14.76"). Weight: grams 402,4 (14.19 oz.). The Seme (sime) is the constant sidearm of the Maasai (Masai) man. It is a light short sword with a double-edged,...
Early 20th century. Diameter 47,5 cm; depth about 17,0 cm. A conic shape shield of buffalo leather, of the type of the Ethiopian highlands. With relieved margin, covered with dark brown velvet on the front (velvet comes from Persia) and richly decorated with ornamented brass elements: an arched shield boss, 4 bronze...
Cm. 88,0 in lenght (34.65"). The blade is cm. 67,0 (26.38"). An authentic sword of the Mandingo (or Mandinka) people of West Africa, the scabbard and handle of this sword require attention for the piece to live up to its full potential. The Mandingo ethnicity has a rich history that reaches even...
Steel blade, handle in bronze, copper, ebony and aluminum, fine leather scabbard. Cm. 27,8 in length (10.94″); the blade is cm. 16,2 in length (2.28″). The Tuareg people inhabit a large area, covering almost all the middle and western Sahara and the north-central Sahel. They are probably descended from the ancient...
Early 20th century. Iron, wood. Cm. 51,0 high (20.08"); weight: grams 528,0 (18.62 oz.). Very good condition. A large fighting axe of the Chokwe people from Angola. Steel blade in good condition showing no significant oxidation. m19
Steel blade, beautiful braided leather scabbard. Without fringes cm. 35,0 in length (13.78″); the blade is cm. 22,5 in length (8.86″). The Tuareg people inhabit a large area, covering almost all the middle and western Sahara and the north-central Sahel. They are probably descended from the ancient Libyan people of the...
End 19th, early 20th century. Iron. Cm. 55,3 high (21.77″); weight: grams 742,0 (26.18 oz.). For similar examples and more informations see “The Perfect Form”, by Roberto Ballarini page 184. m21
Early to mid 20th century. Copper, wood. Cm. 43,8 high (17.24″); weight: grams 246,9 (8.71 oz.). A knife of the Kuba (Ikula) with a hand beaten copper blade. The wooden handle is exquisitely decorated by inlaying thousands of wire bits into the wood and has a nice patina from tribal use. These knives were reserved...
