MANGBETU, Democratic Republic of Congo - Lot 134

MANGBETU, Democratic Republic of Congo Long dagger with lanceolate blade, the hilt carved with an ancestral head with cranial deformation, almond-shaped eyes carved in relief and cheeks adorned with linear scarification marks Hardwood, brass, wrought iron, old honey-brown patina on hilt Height 50cm high This large dagger was both a weapon and a symbol of prestige in Mangbetu societies. The carved head on the hilt illustrates the practice of cranial deformation, a mark of beauty and social status, achieved by bandaging the skull in early childhood. These attributes were associated with the elite and resonated with the aesthetic and hierarchical ideals specific to this culture.