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Sickle knife

Date20th century

Label TextIn 1870, German naturalist and explorer George Schweinfurth was received in a huge hall by the Mangbetu King named Munsa, who sat on a copper-covered throne. King Munsa was extravagantly dressed in cowhides with bundles of monkey and pig tails hanging from his belt and upper arms. He wore ivory and copper jewelry and a crown very similar in shape to a crown of ancient Egypt. In his hand, he held a large crescent shaped knife of this type.

Object number81.17.886

Credit LineGift of Katherine White and the Boeing Company

Dimensions15 5/16 x 10 7/16 in. (38.9 x 26.5 cm)

MediumIron, wood, copper wire