Tetela Currency Knife

  • Tetela Currency Knife

  • Tetela Currency Knife

  • Tetela Currency Knife

  • Tetela Currency Knife

  • Tetela Currency Knife

  • Tetela Currency Knife

  • Tetela Currency Knife

Tetela Currency Knife
Tetela, Mbole, Genya, Lokele, Topoke, Ngandu, or neighboring tribes
Congo- Kasaï District, Congo Free State - Belgian Congo (Lusambo Area, Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Early 20th century (ca. 1900 - 1930)
Iron, wood, copper, brass
Blade: 25,4cm
Hilt & Blade: 33,7cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: -cm
Collection Date: 2022
Collection Number: 278

Currency knife from the Tetela or surrounding neighbors of the Congo. This one is slightly smaller than the average of 15" - 16" but with great detail in the blade. Double-edged steel and 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 wood bound in brass strips in the center, and copper strips on the outside. The top copper strip is loose, while the bottom is now missing. Diamond- shaped iron pommel.

Photo 7 & 8: Unknown