Objects from the exhibition Kongo: Power and Majesty

Explores Central Africa's Kongo civilization's history and culture through 146 of the most inspired creations of Kongo masters from the late fifteenth through the early twentieth century.

Staff : Finial with Kneeling Female Figure, Master of Kasadi Workshop, Wood, iron, metal strips, Kongo peoples; Yombe group — Staff : Finial with Kneeling Female Figure
Master of Kasadi Workshop
19th–early 20th century

Pendant with Saint Anthony of Padua, Kongo artist, Partially hollow cast brass, Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom — Pendant with Saint Anthony of Padua
Kongo artist
16th–19th century

Staff with Saint Anthony of Padua, Kongo artist, Brass, wood, iron, Kongo peoples — Staff with Saint Anthony of Padua
Kongo artist
19th century

Christ figure, Kongo artist, Brass, Kongo — Christ figure
Kongo artist
18th–19th century

Crucifix, Kongo artist, Solid cast brass, Kongo — Crucifix
Kongo artist
16th–17th century

Crucifix, Solid cast brass (Christ), solid cast copper alloy (halo); hollow cast bronze (three end pieces), brass sheet (one end piece), solid cast copper alloy (Mary); forged copper and brass (nails), wood, Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom — Crucifix
Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom
16th–17th century with later additions

Christ, Brass, Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom — Christ
Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom
18th–19th century

Christ, Solid cast brass with holes for nailing, Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom — Christ
Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom
18th–19th century

Crucifix with Saint Anthony of Padua, Kongo artist, Brass, wood, lead-tin alloy sheet, plant fiber cord, Kongo — Crucifix with Saint Anthony of Padua
Kongo artist
16th–18th century (pendant figure); 19th century (cross)

Triple Crucifix, Kongo artist, Open-back cast brass (central figure), solid cast brass (top and bottom figures), forged iron nails, brass, copper, wood, ultramarine pigment, Kongo — Triple Crucifix
Kongo artist
16th–17th century (central figure); 18th–19th century (top and bottom figures)

Mangaaka Power Figure (Nkisi N’Kondi), Yombe-Kongo artist and nganga (ritual specialist), Wood, iron, resin, ceramic, plant fiber, textile, pigment, Kongo — Mangaaka Power Figure (Nkisi N’Kondi)
Yombe-Kongo artist and nganga (ritual specialist)
ca. 1880–1900

Tusk with figurative relief, Vili-Kongo artist(s), Ivory, Kongo, Vili group — Tusk with figurative relief
Vili-Kongo artist(s)
Kongo artist
ca. 1880–1890

Tusk with Figurative Relief, Vili-Kongo artist(s), Ivory, Kongo, Vili group — Tusk with Figurative Relief
Vili-Kongo artist(s)
Kongo artist
ca. 1880–1890

Figure: Seated Female Supporting Figure, Wood, metal, brass tacks, glass, Kongo peoples — Figure: Seated Female Supporting Figure
Kongo peoples
19th–early 20th century

Prestige Cap (Mpu Ntando?), Raffia or pineapple fiber, Kongo peoples — Prestige Cap (Mpu Ntando?)
Kongo peoples
19th century, inventoried ca.1875

Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka), Wood, iron, resin, ceramic, plant fiber, textile, pigment, Kongo peoples; Yombe group — Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka)
Kongo peoples; Yombe group
19th century, inventoried 1904

Prestige Cap (Mpu), Raffia or pineapple fiber, leopard claws, Kongo peoples — Prestige Cap (Mpu)
Kongo peoples
19th century, inventoried 1903

Basket, Fiber, wood, pigment, Kongo peoples — Basket
Kongo peoples
19th century, inventoried 1897

Garment (Nkutu), Pineapple fiber (Ananas sativus Schult.), sedge fiber (Cyperus rotundus Linn.), pigment, Kongo peoples — Garment (Nkutu)
Kongo peoples
19th century, inventoried 1897

Horn (Pungi), Wood, ivory, vegetable fiber, Kongo peoples — Horn (Pungi)
Kongo peoples
19th century, inventoried 1897

Double Bell with Crest (Kunda), Wood, Kongo peoples — Double Bell with Crest (Kunda)
Kongo peoples
19th century, inventoried 1897

Figure: Seated Female with Child, Wood (Canarium schweinfurthii Engl.), plant fiber, glass, leopard claw, kaolin, pigment, Kongo peoples; Yombe group — Figure: Seated Female with Child
Kongo peoples; Yombe group
19th – early 20th century; inventoried 1916

Luxury Cloth: Cushion Cover, Raffia, Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom — Luxury Cloth: Cushion Cover
Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom
17th–18th century, inventoried 1737

Luxury Cloth: Cushion Cover, Raffia, Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom — Luxury Cloth: Cushion Cover
Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom
17th–18th century, inventoried 1737

Luxury Cloth: Cushion Cover, Raffia, Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom — Luxury Cloth: Cushion Cover
Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom
17th–18th century, inventoried 1737

Luxury Cloth: Cushion Cover, Raffia, Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom — Luxury Cloth: Cushion Cover
Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom
17th–18th century, inventoried 1737

Prestige Cap (Mpu), Raffia or pineapple fiber, Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom — Prestige Cap (Mpu)
Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom
16th–17th century, inventoried 1674

Luxury Cloth, Raffia, Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom — Luxury Cloth
Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom
16th–17th century, inventoried 1666

Luxury Cloth: Cushion Cover, Raffia, Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom — Luxury Cloth: Cushion Cover
Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom
17th –18th century, inventoried 1737

Dom Miguel de Castro, Emissary of Soyo, Jaspar Beckx Dutch, Oil on panel, Dutch — Dom Miguel de Castro, Emissary of Soyo
Jaspar Beckx
ca. 1640–1647

Portrait of Diego Bemba, Servant of Don Miguel de Castro, Emissary of Soyo, Jaspar Beckx Dutch, Oil on panel, Dutch — Portrait of Diego Bemba, Servant of Don Miguel de Castro, Emissary of Soyo
Jaspar Beckx
1640–47

Ancestral Shrine Figure: Kneeling Female with Vessel and Seated Figure, Wood, pigment, glass, Kongo peoples; Yombe group — Ancestral Shrine Figure: Kneeling Female with Vessel and Seated Figure
Kongo peoples; Yombe group
19th–early 20th century

Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka), Wood (Canarium schweinfurthii Engl.), iron, resin, cowrie shell, animal hide and hair, ceramic, plant fiber, textile, pigment, Kongo peoples; Yombe group — Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka)
Kongo peoples; Yombe group
19th century

Staff Finial:Kneeling Female Figure With Turned Head, Master of Makaya-Vista, Ivory, Kongo peoples; Woyo group — Staff Finial:Kneeling Female Figure With Turned Head
Master of Makaya-Vista
19th–early 20th century, inventoried 1936

Vessel Fragment, Ceramic, Kongo peoples — Vessel Fragment
Kongo peoples
Ca. 610±30 - 700±30 (late Iron Age)

Vessel Fragment, Ceramic, Kongo peoples — Vessel Fragment
Kongo peoples
Ca. 1530-50 (late Iron Age)

Vessel Fragment, Ceramic, Kongo peoples — Vessel Fragment
Kongo peoples
Ca. 1140

Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka), Wood (Canarium schweinfurthii Engl.), iron, resin, cowrie shell, ceramic, plant fiber, textile, pigment, Kongo peoples; Yombe group — Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka)
Kongo peoples; Yombe group
19th century, inventoried 1909

Oliphant, Ivory, metal (gilt silver?), fiber, Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom — Oliphant
Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom
16th century, inventoried 1843

Luxury Cloth: Cushion Cover, Raffia, Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom — Luxury Cloth: Cushion Cover
Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom
17th–18th century, inventory 1854

Prestige Cap (Mpu), Raffia or pineapple fiber, leopard claws, Kongo peoples — Prestige Cap (Mpu)
Kongo peoples
17th–18th century, inventoried 1796

Oliphant, Ivory, Kongo peoples — Oliphant
Kongo peoples
16th century, inventoried 1553

Mask, Wood, pigment, Kongo peoples; Yombe group — Mask
Kongo peoples; Yombe group
19th–early 20th century

Figure: Kneeling Female Holding Vessel with Seated Male and Dog, Wood, Kongo peoples; Yombe group — Figure: Kneeling Female Holding Vessel with Seated Male and Dog
Kongo peoples; Yombe group
19th–early 20th century, inventoried 1928

Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka), Wood, iron, resin, mirrored glass, ceramic, plant fiber, textile, pigment, Kongo peoples; Yombe group — Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka)
Kongo peoples; Yombe group
19th century

Power Figure: Seated Female Nursing Child (Nkisi), Master of the Boma-Vonde Region, Wood, metal, kaolin, glass, resin, pigment, Kongo peoples; Yombe group — Power Figure: Seated Female Nursing Child (Nkisi)
Master of the Boma-Vonde Region
19th–early 20th century

Mask, Wood, pigment, Kongo peoples; Yombe group — Mask
Kongo peoples; Yombe group
19th–early 20th century

Staff: Finial with Female Figure and Child, Ivory, metal, wood, Kongo peoples — Staff: Finial with Female Figure and Child
Kongo peoples
19th–early 20th century

Power Figure: Standing Female Figure with Child (Wife of Mabyaala?) (Nkisi), Wood, beads, glass, fiber, copper, resin, Kongo peoples; Vili group — Power Figure: Standing Female Figure with Child (Wife of Mabyaala?) (Nkisi)
Kongo peoples; Vili group
19th century, inventoried 1885

Power Figure: Kneeling Female with Serpents and Secondary Figures (Nkisi), Wood, mirrored glass, resin, pigment, Kongo peoples; Vili group — Power Figure: Kneeling Female with Serpents and Secondary Figures (Nkisi)
Kongo peoples; Vili group
19th century, inventoried 1885

Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka), Wood, iron, resin, cowrie shell, ceramic, plant fiber, textile, pigment, Kongo peoples; Yombe group — Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka)
Kongo peoples; Yombe group
19th century, inventoried 1909

Figure: Seated Female Nursing Child, Wood, pigments, metal, Kongo peoples — Figure: Seated Female Nursing Child
Kongo peoples
19th–early 20th century

Power Figure: Standing Male with Raised Arm (Nkisi), Master of Kasadi Workshop, Wood, metal, mirrored glass, resin, Kongo peoples; Yombe group — Power Figure: Standing Male with Raised Arm (Nkisi)
Master of Kasadi Workshop
19th–early 20th century

Livro da Nobreza e da Perfeição das Armas dos Reis Cristãos e Nobres Linhagens dos Reinos e Senhorios de Portugal (Book of Nobility and of the Perfection of the Coat of Arms of the Christian Kings and Noble Lineages of the Kingdoms and Landlords of Portugal), António Godinho Portuguese, Pigment and gold on parchment, Portuguese — Livro da Nobreza e da Perfeição das Armas dos Reis Cristãos e Nobres Linhagens dos Reinos e Senhorios de Portugal (Book of Nobility and of the Perfection of the Coat of Arms of the Christian Kings and Noble Lineages of the Kingdoms and Landlords of Portugal)
António Godinho
ca.1521–41

Afonso I of the Kongo to Manuel I of Portugal Requesting Religious Paraphernalia
Kongo Kingdom, June 8, 1517, Ink on paper, Kongo Kingdom — Afonso I of the Kongo to Manuel I of Portugal Requesting Religious Paraphernalia Kongo Kingdom, June 8, 1517
Kongo Kingdom
June 8, 1517

Alvaro III of Kongo to Philip III of Portugal Establishing Mutually Beneficial Relations Between the Two Countries and Explaining Kongo’s Deteriorating Relationship with the Province of Soyo
, Ink on paper, 2 folios, Kongo Kingdom — Alvaro III of Kongo to Philip III of Portugal Establishing Mutually Beneficial Relations Between the Two Countries and Explaining Kongo’s Deteriorating Relationship with the Province of Soyo
Kongo Kingdom
October 24,1615

Afonso I of the Kongo to Manuel I of Portugal regarding the Burning of “The Great House of Idols”
, Ink on paper, 10 folios, Kongo Kingdom — Afonso I of the Kongo to Manuel I of Portugal regarding the Burning of “The Great House of Idols”
Kongo Kingdom
October 5, 1514

Oliphant, Ivory, Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom — Oliphant
Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom
16th century

Prestige Cap (Mpu), Raffia or pineapple fiber, leopard claws, bone, Kongo peoples — Prestige Cap (Mpu)
Kongo peoples
19th century

Prestige Cap (Mpu), Raffia or pineapple fiber, leopard claws, Kongo peoples — Prestige Cap (Mpu)
Kongo peoples
19th century

Prestige Staff of Henrique III, Wood, metal, Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom — Prestige Staff of Henrique III
Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom
Ca.1842–1857

Padrão de Santo Agostinho (Standard of Saint Augustine), Limestone, Portugal — Padrão de Santo Agostinho (Standard of Saint Augustine)
Portugal
ca. 1482

Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka), Wood, iron, resin, ceramic, plant fiber, textile, pigment, Kongo peoples; Yombe group — Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka)
Kongo peoples; Yombe group
19th century, inventoried 1900

D. Antonius Emanuel Marchio de Wnth Orator Regis Gongi ad Summu[m] Pont, Giovanni Antonio de Paoli Italian, Etching on paper, Italian — D. Antonius Emanuel Marchio de Wnth Orator Regis Gongi ad Summu[m] Pont
Giovanni Antonio de Paoli
Raffaello Schiaminossi
1608

Luxury Cloth: Cushion Cover, Raffia, Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom — Luxury Cloth: Cushion Cover
Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom
16th–17th century, inventoried 1674

Garment (Nkutu), Raffia, Kongo peoples — Garment (Nkutu)
Kongo peoples
19th century, inventoried 1853

Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka), Wood, iron, resin, cowrie shell, ceramic, plant fiber, textile, gourd, pigment, Kongo peoples; Yombe group — Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka)
Kongo peoples; Yombe group
19th century, inventoried 1904

Figure: Seated Female Supporting Figure Clasping Her Breast, Master of Kasadi, Wood, glass, kaolin, Kongo peoples; Yombe group — Figure: Seated Female Supporting Figure Clasping Her Breast
Master of Kasadi
19th–early 20th century

Figure: Seated Female Nursing Child, Master of the Boma-Vonde Region, Wood, kaolin, glass, Kongo peoples; Yombe group — Figure: Seated Female Nursing Child
Master of the Boma-Vonde Region
19th–early 20th century

Staff Finial: Seated Figure, "Master of Concentric Circles", Ivory, metal, Kongo peoples — Staff Finial: Seated Figure
"Master of Concentric Circles"
19th–early 20th century

Staff Finial: Kneeling Female Figure, Ivory, Kongo peoples — Staff Finial: Kneeling Female Figure
Kongo peoples
19th –early 20th century

Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Kozo), Wood, iron, plant fiber, textile, glass, resin, feathers, leopard tooth, leather, pigment, Kongo peoples; Yombe group — Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Kozo)
Kongo peoples; Yombe group
19th century, inventoried 1898

Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka), Wood, iron, resin, ceramic, plant fiber, textile, pigment, cowrie shell, animal hide and hair, Kongo peoples; Yombe group — Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka)
Kongo peoples; Yombe group
19th century, inventoried 1898

Power Figure: Seated Male (Nkisi), Wood, Kongo peoples — Power Figure: Seated Male (Nkisi)
Kongo peoples
19th century, inventoried ca.1875

Ancestral Shrine Figure: Kneeling Female with Vessel and Seated Figure, Wood, glass, black paint, kaolin, Kongo peoples, Yombe group — Ancestral Shrine Figure: Kneeling Female with Vessel and Seated Figure
Kongo peoples, Yombe group
19th–early 20th century

Ceremonial Bell with Face, Wood, mirror, resin, fiber, Kongo peoples — Ceremonial Bell with Face
Kongo peoples
19th–early 20th century

Ceremonial Bell with Bird, Wood, metal, Kongo peoples — Ceremonial Bell with Bird
Kongo peoples
19th–early 20th century

Figure: Seated Female Nursing Child, Wood, glass, metal, Kongo peoples; Yombe group — Figure: Seated Female Nursing Child
Kongo peoples; Yombe group
19th–early 20th century, inventoried 1924

Staff Finial: Kneeling Female Figure, Master of Makaya-Vista, Ivory, Kongo peoples; Woyo group — Staff Finial: Kneeling Female Figure
Master of Makaya-Vista
19th–early 20th century

Staff Finial: Seated Figure, Ivory, Kongo peoples — Staff Finial: Seated Figure
Kongo peoples
19th - early 20th century

Knife Handle: Standing Female Captive, Ivory, metal, Kongo peoples — Knife Handle: Standing Female Captive
Kongo peoples
19th–early 20th century

Staff Finial: Male Grasping Bottle, Ivory, Kongo peoples — Staff Finial: Male Grasping Bottle
Kongo peoples
19th–early 20th century

Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Kozo), Wood, metal, resin, plant fiber, textile, pigment, Kongo peoples; Yombe group — Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Kozo)
Kongo peoples; Yombe group
19th century

Figure: Seated Male, Wood, metal, ivory, glass, pigment, Kongo peoples; Yombe group — Figure: Seated Male
Kongo peoples; Yombe group
19th–early 20th century

Mbanza Kongo (São Salvador)
Engraving from O[lfert] Dapper, Naukeurige Beschrijvinge (Amsterdam), pp. 562–63
, Olfert Dapper Dutch, printed paper with 20th century cloth binding, Dutch — Mbanza Kongo (São Salvador) Engraving from O[lfert] Dapper, Naukeurige Beschrijvinge (Amsterdam), pp. 562–63
Olfert Dapper
Jacob van Meurs
1668

Staff Finial: Female Figure with Child, Ivory, metal, Kongo peoples — Staff Finial: Female Figure with Child
Kongo peoples
19th–early 20th century

Staff Finial: Kneeling Female with Clasped Hands, Ivory, Kongo peoples — Staff Finial: Kneeling Female with Clasped Hands
Kongo peoples
19th century, documented ca.1891

Luxury Cloth: Cushion Cover, Raffia, pigment, Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom — Luxury Cloth: Cushion Cover
Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom
16th–17th century, inventoried 1883

Ceremonial Drum with Male Figure Holding Figurative Superstructure Seated on Elephant, Wood, pigment, hide, Kongo peoples — Ceremonial Drum with Male Figure Holding Figurative Superstructure Seated on Elephant
Kongo peoples
19th century, inventoried 1884

Staff Finial: Ngoyo Queen Giving Birth and Holding Child, Ivory, Kongo people; Woyo group — Staff Finial: Ngoyo Queen Giving Birth and Holding Child
Kongo people; Woyo group
19th–early 20th century, inventoried 1930

Lemba Staff: Finial with Female Figure Nursing Child, Master of the Boma-Vonde Region, Wood, Kongo peoples; Yombe group — Lemba Staff: Finial with Female Figure Nursing Child
Master of the Boma-Vonde Region
19th–early 20th century

Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka), Wood, iron, resin, ceramic, plant fiber, pigment, Kongo peoples; Yombe group — Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka)
Kongo peoples; Yombe group
19th century, inventoried 1935

Luxury Cloth: Cushion Cover, Raffia, Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom — Luxury Cloth: Cushion Cover
Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom
16th–17th century, inventoried 1607

Luxury Cloth, Raffia, pigments, Kongo peoples — Luxury Cloth
Kongo peoples
17th–18th century, inventoried 1709

Luxury Cloth, Raffia, pigments, Kongo peoples — Luxury Cloth
Kongo peoples
17th–18th century, inventoried 1709

Luxury Cloth: Cushion Cover, Raffia, Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom — Luxury Cloth: Cushion Cover
Kongo peoples; Kongo Kingdom
17th–18th century, inventoried 1876

Prestige Cap (Mpu), Raffia or pineapple fiber, Kongo peoples — Prestige Cap (Mpu)
Kongo peoples
17th–18th century, inventoried 1876

Oliphant, Ivory, Kongo peoples, Kongo Kingdom — Oliphant
Kongo peoples, Kongo Kingdom
16th century, inventoried 1887

Figure: Seated Female Nursing Child, Master of the Boma-Vonde Region, Wood, kaolin, Kongo peoples; Yombe group — Figure: Seated Female Nursing Child
Master of the Boma-Vonde Region
19th–early 20th century, inventoried 1913

Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka), Wood, iron, resin, cowrie shell, animal hide and hair (monkey?), ceramic, plant fiber, textile, pigment, Kongo peoples; Yombe group — Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka)
Kongo peoples; Yombe group
19th century, inventoried 1906

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