Symmetrical prestige blade

Iron knives, swords, and other weapons are more than armaments; they are powerful symbols of prestige and authority. Many weapons are intricately adorned with abstract geometric patterns, figurative elements, western-made objects, and copper accents, all of which are intended to increase the status of the object's owner. This blade is typical of many Kuba club blades, although it is often difficult to discern the origin of weapons because they were so readily traded. However, this blade exhibits many of the same aesthetic features of other blades attributed to the Kuba such as the rosette that adorns the underside of the handle.