A Songye Ceremonial Axe,
Prestige axe, "kilonda"
Songye, Nsapo, DR Congo
Ohne Sockel / without base
Wood, iron, copper. L 42,5 cm.
Provenance:
Helmut (1931-2021) and Marianne Zimmer, Zurich.
Ceremonial weapons are characterized by careful manufacture and decorative design, e.g. the ornamentation with valuable materials such as copper, bronze, ivory or fur.
The original function is thus limited, so that a use as a fighting weapon is no longer in the foreground. Rather, they signalized the social status and power of the wearer and were thus rather cult, pomp, dignity and status weapons that were also used in barter trade.
Further reading:
Fischer, Werner / Zirngibl, Manfred A. (1978). African weapons. Knives, daggers, swords, hatchets, throwing weapons. Prinz Publishers.
CHF 100 / 200
EUR 100 / 200
