Rare Pair Of Large Khond War Axes, Central India

These very rare large war axes are typical of the Khond ethnic group (Kond, Kondh, several spellings) of central India. They date from the end of the 18th century or the first quarter of the 19th century. They are distinguished from other known examples by their large size and the quality of their manufacture. The similarity of the decorations of the bronze thrusting sockets which end them clearly show that they are a pair, which has never been separated. They were brought back by missionaries who had received them as a gift in the 19th century and kept in the family since.
The Khonds are an infamous ethnic group, renowned for their savagery, who still practiced cannibalism in the 19th century according to some authors, and who documentedly practiced human sacrifices to fertilize the land until the beginning of the 20th century. The axe is the favorite weapon of the Khonds, it can be of different shapes.
Axe No. 1 = The iron of this one has a beautiful shape of elongated triangle whose edges go up in an arc of a circle, with several faces. This edge is caught between the edges which extend the eye of the axe. The eye of the axe is faceted, it is reinforced by a strong edge on the side opposite the edge. A thin iron sheet makes the junction between the metal part and the handle of the axe.
Width of the edge = 29 cm, height top of the eye-edge 16 cm The handle is made of hard wood, with a beautiful patina. It protrudes from the metal part of 5 cm. And ends on the side of the axe with a chiseled bronze socket of 10.5 cm decorated with motifs typical of the Khond ethnic group, which supports a small wrought iron thrust. At the other end of the handle, there is a faceted chiseled bronze socket.
Total length = 107.5 cm
Axe No. 2: It is very similar to No. 1: The iron is slightly different, it has several faces and shows the result of a quality sworsmith's work. The shape is complex, with a concave edge rising in the shape of fangs. The eye of the axe is a direct extension of the edge, the bronze socket at the tip and the thrust which extends it are the same as for the first axe.
Width of the edge = 27.3 cm, height of the top of the eye-edge 16 cm Total length = 104 cm The small bronze socket at the end of the handle which is opposite the iron has been lost, the one which is present is a replacement, by a material which seems to be  a resin, colored in gold. This is the only defect of this pair of axes.

These weapons whose authenticity is absolute are particularly uncommon in Europe. Finding a pair coming from the same craftsman is an even rarer thing. One will profitably consult the catalog of the Buttin collection about these axes.
Shipping costs France 30€, Europe 40€
Ref D-25/2-08