Mangbetu Sape
Mangbetu Sape
Mangbetu
Uélé District - Haut- Uélé District, Orientale Province, Congo Free State - Belgian Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Early 20th century (ca. 1900 - 1930)
Steel, elephant ivory
Blade: 14cm
Hilt & Blade: 24,8cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 27,9cm
Collection Date: 2026
Collection Number: 505
Ex. Rick Stroud (RSWORD): Raleigh, North Carolina (2026)
A fine example of the Mangbetu sape knife. The Mangbetu are renowned for their fine craftsmanship, carving of knives, musical instruments, horns, hairpins, pipes, and other crafts such as pottery and sculpture. Pieces such as this were created to demonstrate wealth and status along with being used for general work or self-defense.
The double-edged iron blade is leaf shaped with a squared central ridge, engraved in linear and cross- hatched designs. The blade has a raised central plane with the edges beveled. The hilt carved from elephant ivory, flared at the top, with a turned central grip that rounds up to the pommel. Accompanied by its original leather sheath, decorated with iron strips at the top. Leather loop on the rear side. An elegant sape knife complete with its sheath, demonstrating traditional Mangbetu craftsmanship.
[1] https://www.penn.museum/collections/object/410787
[2] https://www.penn.museum/collections/object/10533
[3] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1954-23-1560
[5] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=5850
[6] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=6109
[7] http://oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=6091
[9] https://africanarms.com/gallery.html?3-mangbetu-with-scabbard-22-cm
[10] https://www.faganarms.com/products/very-fine-and-rare-mangbetu-slaver-s-battle-dagger
[11] https://brunoclaessens.com/2013/10/knives-of-the-mangbetu/#.YmR5GNrMIow