TETELA (CONGOLESE) SLAVER’S SHORTSWORD C.1890

From the Baptist Missionary Society Collection and made for the King’s court. 11 1/2” d.e. copper blade with hatched and fullered medial. One-piece waisted wood grip The Tetela   were large scale slavers at the time and this is a royal version of the slaver’s primary weapon.  Short proportions as used for household raids which resulted in the capture of marketable individuals and the slaying of those who were not. Baptist Missionaries settled in central Africa in the 1880s and were successful in converting some of the inhabitants. The collection was circulated among churches in England to raise funds for the missions. The collection was sold at Christie's London in the 1980s. The tag is not included.