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Axe

Object Number:AF1238
Current Location: Collections Storage
Culture:Baluba
Basonge
Provenience: Zaire
Kasai District
Belgian Congo
Section:African
Materials:Copper
Iron
Wood
Length: 37.8 cm
Width: 19.2 cm
Credit Line:Purchased from J. F. G. Umlauff, 1912
Other Number:1096 - Other Number

Description

Wooden handle has a wide base; above the wide base the handle is slender, but widens and becomes bulbous at the top by the iron blade; handle is sheathed in copper except just above the base of handle to about the middle of the handle is wrapped in wire; iron blade is narrow where it is connected to the handle but widens and has a slightly arched, wide striking edge; the top and bottom edge of each face of blade is raised; rectangular design is incised on each face of narrow part of blade, design consists of criss-crossing lines in a rectangular-shaped box; box is surrounded by very small circular indentations; there are thirteen small holes through the blade; four holes are grouped together and nine form a circle around the group of four; the group of four holes is surrounded by small circular indentations, as is each of the individual holes in the out circle of nine; there is a deep circular indentation on each side of bulbous part of handle.

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