CONGO
Line
The
Perfect forms
"It's all about the line". This in essence what I have learned from African weapons specialists over the years. The line must be clear, it must flow naturally, as a result of generations of transmission of shapes, decorations and metalsmith skills.
The present ensemble is the result of years hunting the finest, oldest and most refined examples from old colonial collections, be it a rare Momvu discoidal knife, the scarce Lendu "arasa", a Teke "ibia" axe of incomparable age or to put together a complete collection of Yakoma spears.
Weapons are amongst the most treasured markers of identity of the Congolese people. Carried on daily basis for warfare or as status regalia, they can also intervene as monetary agents or symbols during initiation. Forged in iron and decorated with the "gold of central Africa", cooper alloys (including brass), these perfect lines are unique in human creation and form the very essence and soul of a people.
Laurent Granier, April 2023
Nota: All the pieces come with a custom stand. Click on photo to enlarge.
Momvu
Asymmetrical discoidal knife, Momvu, 48.5 cm.
Provenance: Colonial collection of a Moroccan tirailleur; By descent to the family, France.
Price: 2300 Euros enquiry
Yakoma
Combat spears (including a "zaga" harpoon) Yakoma/Ngbandi, 147 to 161 cm.
Wood, iron, copper, brass, hide.
Provenance: Colonel L, Director of the radio services of the AOF in 1920 : By descent to the Family, France (1, 3, 5, 6) ; French Colonial Collection (2) ; Dieter Schaffner Collection, Germany (4)
Price for the collection: 3300 euros (including wall mount) enquiry
Arasa
Sickle knife "arasa", Ndo/Lendu/Alur, 12 cm.
Provenance: Nicolas de Kun, Belgium.
Price: 1000 Euros enquiry
Ibia
Teke/Mfinu "ibia" axe, 40 cm.
Provenance: French colonial collection.
Price: 3000 Euros enquiry
Banziri
Yakoma/Banziri "masumba" brass dagger in leather scabbard, 37.5 cm.
Provenance: Guy Dubois, France ; By transmission to the family (collection constituted before 1950)
Price: 1500 Euros enquiry
Basakpwa
Ceremonial chopper knife "basakpwa", Yakoma/Ngbandi, 35 cm.
Provenance: Luc Lefebvre, France.
Publication: "Yakoma Ngbandi", Cat 133. p 74.
Price: 1500 Euros enquiry
Mangbetu
Mangbetu dagger and its leather scabbard, 29 cm.
Provenance: Patrick Mestdagh Gallery, Belgium.
Price: 1200 Euros enquiry
Konda
Sword in scabbard
Konda people
Wood, iron, brass
51 cm (20 inches)
Provenance : Dieter Schaffner, Germany
Price: 1600 Euros enquiry
Ondo
"Ondo" throwing knife, Banda, 40 cm .
Provenance: Luc Lefebvre, France.
Publication: "Couteaux de jet Vol 2", Cat 1. pp 2,3.
Price: 1500 Euros enquiry
Yakoma
Yakoma/Ngbandi currency spears (iron, brass, copper), 140 to 172 cm.
Provenance: Dieter Schaffner, Germany.
Price for the collection: 2500 euros
(including wall mount) enquiry
