ticketsMember | Make a donation

Bondjo

ca. 1915
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 684
This type of side-blown trumpet, produced for various nkumu (leaders), was originally used in battle. Today it is employed to add prestige to such ceremonies as the investiture or marriage of a nkumu, the birth of twins, or the propitiation of hunting and planting spirits. The faceted elephant tusk with a raised diamond-shaped mouthpiece on the concave side is typical of many Congolese trumpets. A flanged wood extension, painted with black-and-white stripes and checks, is similar in shape to the headpieces worn by Ekonda leaders. This form, characteristic of royal motifs at the turn of the century, also appears on special drums and rhythm-keeping stamping sticks.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Bondjo
  • Date: ca. 1915
  • Geography: Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Culture: Ekonda people (Konda)
  • Medium: Ivory, wood, polychrome
  • Dimensions: 8 × 57 1/2 × 8 in. (20.3 × 146.1 × 20.3 cm)
  • Classification: Aerophone-Lip Vibrated-trumpet / trombone
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Rogers Fund, Roger L. Stevens Family Fund Gift, Gifts of Herbert J. Harris, and Brian and Ann Marie Todes, by exchange, Kay T. Krechmer Bequest, in memory of her husband, Harold H. Krechmer, and funds from various donors, 1992
  • Object Number: 1992.326
  • Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Whistle, Wood, Kuba
Whistle
Kuba
ca. 1902
Whistle, Wood, copper wire, Kuba, Ngend or Yaka people
Whistle
Kuba, Ngend or Yaka people
early 20th century
Kasengosengo (whistle), Wood, Chokwe
Kasengosengo (whistle)
Chokwe
1950
Likembe, Wood, metal, fiber, Lele people
Likembe
Lele people
20th century
Rattle, Wood, fruit shell (Oncoba Spinosa), Ndengese
Rattle
Ndengese
early 20th century

Related Content

Perspectives

Articles, audio, and video from The Met's online magazine.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.