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Knife (Ikul)
Kuba People
Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire)
early 20th century or earlier
length: 46cm
The blade of this ikul has a beautiful curved sculptural form. It has been polished towards the edge and dulled black in the middle. The blackened section has
two pierced holes that are now filled with copper. Between these are three rows of small hammer marks. These are hammered from the reverse sides of the
blade to imitate a negative mirror image on each side of the blade.
The wooden hilt is wrapped with copper strips. The pommel is octagonal and sheathed with a thin layer of sheet copper. Small nails secure the metal strips
and the copper sheet to the hilt. The copper on the base of the pommel is decorated by a circle of hammered triangles around a protruding centre.
This ikul is symmetrical in shape. The blade is of locally forged iron and is in fine condition with little oxidation.
All adult Kuba men carried an ikul. The ikul was symbolic of their masculinity, class, warriorhood and kingship. The Kuba people were well known for their
blacksmithing skills, which were considered a royal art with royal patronage.
Knives, axes and currency blades were made from forged iron, the forms of which often exhibit inventiveness and workmanship beyond what was functionally
necessary.
Knife (Ikul)
Kuba People
Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire)
early 20th century or earlier
length: 46cm
The blade of this ikul has a beautiful curved sculptural form. It has been polished towards the edge and dulled black in the middle. The blackened section has
two pierced holes that are now filled with copper. Between these are three rows of small hammer marks. These are hammered from the reverse sides of the
blade to imitate a negative mirror image on each side of the blade.
The wooden hilt is wrapped with copper strips. The pommel is octagonal and sheathed with a thin layer of sheet copper. Small nails secure the metal strips
and the copper sheet to the hilt. The copper on the base of the pommel is decorated by a circle of hammered triangles around a protruding centre.
This ikul is symmetrical in shape. The blade is of locally forged iron and is in fine condition with little oxidation.
All adult Kuba men carried an ikul. The ikul was symbolic of their masculinity, class, warriorhood and kingship. The Kuba people were well known for their
blacksmithing skills, which were considered a royal art with royal patronage.
Knives, axes and currency blades were made from forged iron, the forms of which often exhibit inventiveness and workmanship beyond what was functionally
necessary.
Ikul can be seen in the Ndop, the carved wooden portraits that commemorate each Kuba king. Ikul knives
that bear a conical pommel appeared in the early seventeenth century under the patronage of King Shyaam
aMbul aNgoong (his Ndop currently is displayed in the British Museum). They were carried exclusively by the
ruling Bushoong clan as a symbol of peace. A weapon symbolising peace might seem counterintuitive, but the
Kuba believed that peace could only be assured by possessing powerful weaponry, which could act as a
deterrent.
The Kuba Kingdom (1625-1900) was a pre-colonial central African state within Zaire (known as the
Democratic Republic of the Congo today). It began as a loose conglomerate of several tribes with no central
authority. Around 1625, Shyaam a-Mbul Ngoong-Shyaam united all the tribes under his leadership. According
to folklore, Shyaam a-Mbul was the adopted son of a Kuba queen.
Provenance: Acquired in the early 1970s at Wallis & Wallis by the previous owner.
Inventory no.: 891 SOLD
Click here for more Tribal items.
that bear a conical pommel appeared in the early seventeenth century under the patronage of King Shyaam
aMbul aNgoong (his Ndop currently is displayed in the British Museum). They were carried exclusively by the
ruling Bushoong clan as a symbol of peace. A weapon symbolising peace might seem counterintuitive, but the
Kuba believed that peace could only be assured by possessing powerful weaponry, which could act as a
deterrent.
The Kuba Kingdom (1625-1900) was a pre-colonial central African state within Zaire (known as the
Democratic Republic of the Congo today). It began as a loose conglomerate of several tribes with no central
authority. Around 1625, Shyaam a-Mbul Ngoong-Shyaam united all the tribes under his leadership. According
to folklore, Shyaam a-Mbul was the adopted son of a Kuba queen.
Provenance: Acquired in the early 1970s at Wallis & Wallis by the previous owner.
Inventory no.: 891 SOLD
Click here for more Tribal items.
