Sabre knife (magia)
Artist Unidentified
20th century
Object PlaceDemocratic Republic of the Congo
Medium/TechniqueWood, iron
DimensionsOverall: 33 x 13 x 3 cm (13 x 5 1/8 x 1 3/16 in.)
Credit LineGift of Geneviève McMillan in memory of Reba Stewart
Accession number2009.2557
On View
Not on viewClassificationsWarfare, hunting, fishing
Collections
Few accessories are appropriate to both young women and elder men , but this elegant sabre knife was used by young women completing training to become adults in society, as well as by senior men as a symbol of their authority. The larger size of this piece along with its sharp edges suggests this was more of a functional piece or prestige symbol rather than a dance implement. Banda knives are commonly held in museum collections and illustrated in books, but have not been well-studied.
ProvenanceGeneviève McMillan (b. 1922 - d. 2008), Cambridge, MA; 2008, to the Geneviève McMillan and Reba Stewart Foundation, Cambridge; 2009, gift of the Geneviève McMillan and Reba Stewart Foundation to the MFA. (Accession Date: June 17, 2009)
mid 20th century
20th century
early 20th century
