Sickle knife
20th century
In 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.
Iron, wood, copper wire
15 5/16 x 10 7/16 in. (38.9 x 26.5 cm)
Gift of Katherine White and the Boeing Company
81.17.886
