Antique
TOPOKE LIGANDA
AFRICAN CURRENCY
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)
D ESCRIPTION: Forged from a single piece of iron with light ribbing to both edges, front and back, too thin and unsharpened to have been functional weapons these blades were used by the Nkutshu, Topoke & Songo Meno peoples to close a variety of important transactions such as land deals and according to and at one time, twenty to thirty would have bought a bride. They are called Liganda. They were used from the 19th until well into the middle of the 20th century.
56” in length, it can either be mounted from the floor in a specially constructed base or hung on a wall in a small loop.
CONDITION: Please see photographs. Fair condition. A small split about two-thirds of the way up caused by having been previously bent; the blade is very sturdy now and easily stands on its own. Some loss as seen to the flange at the base.
Oxidation on the surface, rusted surface.
LOW OPENING BID & NO RESERVE