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African traditional forms

Tuesday 14 February 2023, 04:30 PM • Milan

40

Congo Kinshasa, ZANDE

Ornamental knife

Estimate

€ 350 - 450

Sold

€ 448

The price includes buyer's premium

Information

cm 46,5 x 29,5
Forged iron shaped blades with shear on the front side. Handle covered with copper plate. Period patina. Signs of use.
Origin names: Pinga / Kipinga
Throwing knife that in similar forms was also produced by the Banja (Central African Republic) and Nzakara groups, peoples settled in the northern Congo Kinshasa region. The shape of the blades changes according to the imagination of the smiths. The rectangular hole on the supporting shaft was intended to make the knife lighter. The handle covered with copper plate is the original one. The stylized motifs, found on the front side, testify to the smith's care to make the knife more valuable.

Literature

FISHER WERNER & ZIRNGIBL MANFRED A. “Afrikanische Waffen”, Passau 1978, pagina 86, n° 148, 149 (202);
BALLARINI ROBERTO “Armi bianche dell’Africa Nera”, Milano 1992, pagg. 83 e 84, Galleria Africa Curio (Pinga) (276);
ELSEN JAN & AUTORI VARI “Beauté Fatale: Armes d’Afrique Centrale” Crédit Communal, Bruxelles 1992, pagina 180, n° 288 (Kipinga) (292);
ELSEN JAN “De fer et de fiertè: armes blanches d’Afrique Noire du Musée Barbier Mueller” Ginevra, Milano 2003, pag. 119 (524)