A Kongo ceremonial short sword Ceremonial short sword Congo / Ngbaka / Mbuja, DR Congo Mit Sockel / with base Iron, wood, copper . H 46 cm. Provenance: - Galerie Entwistle, Lance Entwistle, Paris. - 2006: Private collection in French-speaking Switzerland. Unsold at Sotheby's Paris (09.04.2022, "Living Contemporary", lot 214) with an estimate of € 3'000-5'000 (for two knives). ----------------------------------------------------- On Lance Entwistle's invoice, this object is described as follows: "Couteau cérémonial. République Démocratique du Congo, 19ième ou début du 20ième. Fer, cuivre, laiton, bois. Longueur: 46.5 cm. € 2'500". ----------------------------------------------------- Ceremonial weapons are characterized by careful manufacture and decorative design, e.g. ornamentation with valuable materials such as copper, bronze, ivory or fur. Their original function is therefore limited, so that their use as a weapon of war is no longer the main focus. Instead, they signaled the wearer's social status and power, making them more like cult, ceremonial, dignity and status weapons that were also used in barter. Further reading: Fischer, Werner / Zirngibl, Manfred A. (1978). African weapons. Knives, daggers, swords, axes, throwing weapons. Prinz Verlag. CHF 1 000 / 2 000 Weight in grams: 769 Condition: The condition of this lot (wear, signs of use, tears, any other detractions and the signs of age, etc. The condition of this lot (wear, tears, possible other impairments and signs of age, if applicable) can be seen in the photos we have uploaded for your documentation. Please feel free to contact Hammer Auctions with any questions regarding this lot ([email protected]). The statements regarding the condition of the items made for the convenience of interested parties are opinions only and should not be treated as statements of fact. Hammer Auctions accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions. In the rare event that the item does not match the description in the catalog, Hammer Auctions is here to help. Buyers may return the lot for a full refund provided Hammer Auctions has been notified within 5 days of receipt of the lot.

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African Ethnograhic Art from Gérald & Muriel MINKOFF, Galerie Walu and others Swiss Private Collections.

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