Ngbandi Hippopotamus Harpoon

Ngbandi Hippopotamus Harpoon
Ngbandi, Yakoma, Ngombe, Doko, Mbudja
Équateur District, Congo Free State - Équateur Province, Belgian Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Late 19th - Early 20th century (ca. 1890 - 1900)
Steel, wood, iron, copper, plant fiber
Blade: 12,1cm
Blade & Socket: 54,6cm
Blade & Shaft: 156,8cm
Collection Date: 2023


Ex. Scott Bergmans: Lommel, Belgium (2023)
Ex. Belgian Collection: (ca. 1900)


Hippopotamus hunting harpoon of the Ngbandi People or closely surrounding neighbors. The steel arrow shaped head has a single flared barb on one side. Long iron socket with linear notchings. Wooden shaft with iron and copper bindings. Plant fiber braided cord. Iron butt piece. The harpoon head detaches from the shaft and is connected by the braided cord. From an old Belgian collection. Ca. 1900.