Sling shot – Wood – Tabwa – DR Congo

Fine wooden sling shot from the Hemba tribe of DR Congo, The handle has been carved as a human face. This sling shot shows great sign of use: it has a lustrous honey-coloured patina and contours rounded from much handling. African sling shots and catapults are not well documented compared with other African art forms. Hemba sling shots are more commonly found with their designs carved upside down wit respect to how the sling shots are held when in use. Sling shots and catapults are amongst an array of objects of miniature art in West Africa. They were used in the hunting of smaller prey to supplement the diet. Sling shots were believed to hold talismanic powers and bring luck in hunting. Their lower portion is usually fitted with a rubber obtained from inner tire tubes. However, these attachments often fall off over time. Provenance: private German collection.

Object:	Slingshot
Ethnic group:	Hemba
Country:	DR Congo
Material:	Wood
Period:	Mid 20th century
Sold with stand:	No
Dimensions:	18x8x4 cm
Weight:	120 gram
Condition:	Good condition, used with some signs of wear