A Fine Tetela Prestige Knife
A Fine Tetela Prestige Knife
Tetela, Mbole, Genya, Lokele, Topoke, Ngandu, or neighboring tribes
Congo- Kasaï District, Belgian Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Early 20th century (ca. 1925)
Iron, Elephant ivory
Blade: 31,1cm
Hilt & Blade: 40cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: -cm
Collection Date: 2022
Collection Number: 270
Ex. Oriental Arms: Haifa, Israel (2022) (https://oriental-arms.com/product/rare-dagger-of-the-tetela-with-ivory-grip/)
Ex. C&T Auctioneers: Royal Tunbridge Well, UK (2020)
Ex. Christian Ries Collection
Brought back from the fourth Dana Expedition (1928 - 1930) officially titled "The Carlsberg Foundation's Oceanographical Expedition Round the World 1928-30 under the leadership of Professor Johannes Schmidt"
A fine currency or prestige knife from the Tetela or surrounding neighbors of the Congo. Double- edged iron blade flared at the base, then tapering to a spearpoint with chamfered edges. Finely incised linear decorations on one half of the blade and offset on the reverse side. The hilt of elephant ivory. Diamond- shaped iron pommel. This is the only one of three examples that I have found with an ivory hilt. Most are made of wood bound in copper or brass strips, making this example a rare piece bearing solid provenance.