A Lega Initiation Knife Initiation knife Lega, DR Congo Ohne Sockel / without base Bone. H 29,5 cm. Provenance: Helmut (1931-2021) and Marianne Zimmer, Zurich. Inventory number "ER24" noted on the object (see photos). Inventory number "ER24" noted on the object (see photos). See: Elsen, Jan / Gosseau, Christian (1996). Tribal Arms Monographs. Vol. I, No. 3. Brussels: Tribal Arts. ----------------------------------------------------- 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 signal the social status and power of the wearer and are thus rather cult, pomp, dignity and status weapons that were also used in barter. Further reading: Cornet, Joseph-Aurelien / Dewey, William Dr. / Dubrunfaut, P. / Elsen, Jan / Felix, Marc L. / Gosseau, Christian / Schoonheyt, Jacques / van Noten, Francis (1992). Beauté fatale. Armes d'Afrique centrale. Galerie du Crédit Communal. Crédit Communal, Bruxelles. CHF 100 / 200 EUR 100 / 200