Ceremonial Knife, aelo
Ceremonial Knife, aelo
$1,800.00
Hemba / Luba / Kusu / Holoholo, D.R. Congo
Iron, wood
Early 20th century
16 in :: 40.5 cm
The Luba Epic explains how kingship and metal-smithing were introduced by the cultural hero Mbidi Kiluwe. Brandishing a ceremonial axe therefore implies a recollection of royal origins and prerogatives (Elsen, Fatal Beauty [black edition], 2013. Roberts & Roberts, Luba: Visions of Africa, 2007. Verswijver, G., De Palmenaer, E., Baeke, V., and Bouttiaux-Ndiaye, A., eds. Masterpieces from Central Africa, 1996. Visonà, Poynor, & Cole, A History of Art in Africa, 2008; Westerdijk, African Metal Implements, 1984).
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