240954 - Beautiful African Bronze Kuba Ikul ceremonial sword - Congo

This ikul consists of a leaf-shaped copper blade and a wooden handle finished with a round knob with decorative inlay. 

The blade has a well-marked central edge and this ikul is decorated with engravings. It is a ceremonial knife, of which this one is richly decorated.

This ikul is 34 centimeters long. 

This Ikul knife is from the first half of the 20th century and comes with a certificate of authenticity.

Every adult Kuba man carried an ikul in historical times. As occurred in many other cultures, the sword served as a symbol of adult masculinity. The Kuba are notable for their skills in blacksmithing and the importance in which they hold the community's blacksmith. Smithing was (alongside weaving and a select few other arts) considered a royal art. This explains why the bearing of arms was regarded by the Kuba not only as a cultural symbol of class, manhood, and warriorhood, but also of kingship.

The ikul was first designed and created by King Shyaam aMbul aNgoong in the early 17th century, and was originally carried exclusively by the Kuba of the ruling Bushoong clan as a symbol of peaceful reign. That a weapon should serve as a symbol of peace may seem confusing, but this accurately reflects the fact that peace can often only be guaranteed by a government possessing effective military force.

While every free Kuba man carried an Ikul, during a new moon, when the moon isn't visible in the sky, only wooden Ikul (faux knives) could be brandished (Elsen, De Fer et De fierté, 2003; "Ikul (1907.21.25)," Pitt Rivers Museum,