Owner: HWMC
Catalog#: AF-IDST-045-14
Provenance: Davis Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1995
Bells, Metal
Kuba 'Puno' Spear Bell
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)
Kuba
Metal
ca. Early-Mid 20th century
Length: 64 inches
Idiophone – Struck Directly – Metal Bell
Spear bells were traded as currency in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This spear shows use by Kuba warriors for hunting. Special design pole with metal wrapping in rope design for reinforcement. The bell on the end serves both in throwing with accuracy, the same as feathers, plus it helps the hunter identify where the spear lands making it easier to retrieve and track the animal if the spear remains in a prey that is still moving.