A Dengese wooden prestige adze, Dengese; D.R. Congo
The adze of elongated form with 'L' shaped blade, the whole with raised geometric motifs all along the surface and remains of red infill. The handle with fine patina. L. 19 1'2"
Axes of this type are roughly analogous to the Kuba wooden Ikul knives and were carried as non-lethal substitutes for real weapons during the time of the new moon, which was considered a time of uncertainty and potential unchecked aggression.
Comments: Property of a New Hampshire collector
Provenance: Ex. Collection Prof. Bern, Berkeley, Ca
Ex. Dave Deroche, Oakland, CA