This is a rare authentic antique Songye tribe carved and used wooden bellows which was a tool for a blacksmiths forge which was collected from the Congo in Central Africa. This carved wooden antique Songye blacksmith's tool features two hollow chambers which are wrapped in tanned animal hide with two long sticks attached to them which were used by the blacksmith's apprentice to pumped or blow air through the bellows neck out of the mouthpiece for the purpose of fanning or stoking the fire of the forge so it could be hot enough for the blacksmith to work on. This antique bellows features primitive carvings on the long extended neck of two axes, a knife and a snake. Songye blacksmiths were very respected among the tribe and were even feared for their work at the forge and for their ability of making iron into tribal tools, weapons, and objects used to invoke and mediate deities and other spirits of supernatural power. Many tribal members believed them to have magical abilities. This is a rare piece which would be fantastic to add to an African art collection as it is extremely rare to find these authentic bellows in this condition with both the original hide and sticks levers still attached.

This African antique Songye metalsmiths bellows body measures 28 inches long by 12.50 inches wide and the branch handles measure 48.50 inches long. This piece from the end of the bellows to the tip of the longest handle measures 55 inches long and it weighs 6 pounds and 13 ounces. I have thousands of items to browse through so check out my ebay store.