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Ceremonial axe
Object Number 17-41-50/B1571
Display Title Ceremonial axe
Descriptions
Object Description Luba axe. Chief's small, ceremonial axe hafted with tapered and decoratively incised steel blade. The wood handle is elaborately carved and incised. The butt-end depicts a woman's head sculpted in-the-round. The handle is wrapped with strips of copper alloy sheet metal hammered to conform to shape and pinned with nails. A separate strip of the same metal covers the edge of the rounded top where the blade is attached. The wood has a soft brown patina and the metal covered handle is worn smooth from use.
Inventory Description Ax, triangular incised blade, inserted into wood handle, carved human head at ba
Classification
  • Axe
Department Ethnographic
Culture
  • Urna Numba Kudja
  • Luba
Geography/Provenience/Site Name
Africa / Congo
Materials Wood , Iron , Copper
Dimensions Overall: 36 x 24 x 5 cm (14 3/16 x 9 7/16 x 1 15/16 in.)
Quantity 1
Label on object 17-41-50/B1571
Credit Line Gift of Mrs. George Howe, A. C. Coolidge, and Oric Bates, 1917
Provenance
Collector Henri Pareyn (1880's-1890's)
Dealer William O. Oldman (1917)
Donor Mrs. George P. Howe (July 1917)
Donor Prof. A. C. Coolidge (July 1917)
Donor Mr. Oric Bates (July 1917)

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