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Basket

19th century, inventoried 1897

Not on view

Kongo lidded baskets in a variety of cylindrical and rectangular forms were woven by women. In this example, black supplementary fibers highlight the bold graphic design of a deconstructed interlace that branches around the exterior. In Kongo society, such containers served as receptacles for precious goods and were also presented as ambassadorial gifts. This basket, likely created for export, was first exhibited in 1894 at the Insular and Colonial Exhibition presented at the Crystal Palace in Porto, Portugal.

Basket, Fiber, wood, pigment, Kongo peoples — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Basket, Fiber, wood, pigment, Kongo peoples

Basket, Fiber, wood, pigment, Kongo peoples

Basket, Fiber, wood, pigment, Kongo peoples

Basket, Fiber, wood, pigment, Kongo peoples

Basket, Fiber, wood, pigment, Kongo peoples

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Basket

Date: 19th century, inventoried 1897

Geography: Cabinda, Angola

Culture: Kongo peoples

Medium: Fiber, wood, pigment

Dimensions: H. 8 5/8 in. (22 cm), Diam. 8 5/8 in. (22 cm)

Classification: Basketry-Containers

Credit Line: Museu da Ciência da Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal

The Met

The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing at The Met

The Met's collection of art of the peoples of sub-Saharan Africa, the Pacific Islands, and North, Central, and South America comprises more than eleven thousand works of art of varied materials and types, representing diverse cultural traditions from as early as 3000 B.C.E. to the present.