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Royal seat

19th–early 20th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 344
This commanding woman kneels on a circular disk while balancing another atop her head and strong arms. Further ornamented with precious ivory and beaded jewelry, such a powerful depiction of womanhood underscored a Songye chief’s ancestral right to rule. For the neighboring Luba, continuity of the royal line depended on women carrying new generations into the world. Royal seats honored women as the source of life, and they legitimized the chief’s authority by presenting idealized portraits of his female ancestors. Songye leaders adapted these thrones for their own use, portraying both male and female figurative supports. That customization reflects the equal weight Songye have placed on the importance of maternal and paternal lineages.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Royal seat
  • Artist: Songye artist
  • Date: 19th–early 20th century
  • Geography: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lomami River region
  • Culture: Songye peoples
  • Medium: Wood, copper alloy, ivory, beads
  • Dimensions: H. 19 13/16 x W. 13 3/8 x D. 13 1/8 in. (50.4 x 34 x 33.3 cm)
  • Classification: Wood-Furniture
  • Credit Line: The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Purchase, Nelson A. Rockefeller Gift, 1969
  • Object Number: 1978.412.593
  • Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing

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Kifwebe bakashi (female mask), Songye artist, Wood, pigment, Songye peoples
Kifwebe bakashi (female mask)
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Kilonda (ceremonial axe), Songye artist, Iron, copper, wood, Songye peoples
Kilonda (ceremonial axe)
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Lupona (royal seat), Ngongo ya Chintu, formerly known as the "Buli Master" (ca. 1810-1870, Kateba region, Democratic Republic of the Congo) Democratic Republic of Congo, Wood, metal studs
Lupona (royal seat)
Ngongo ya Chintu, formerly known as the "Buli Master" (ca. 1810-1870, Kateba region, Democratic Republic of the Congo)
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Nkisi (power figure), Kongo artist and nganga, Wood, pigment, resin, iron, brass, tin, cloth, plant fiber cord, beads, cowrie shells, bone or ivory, arrows, leather, seeds, animal horn, Kongo
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Nkishi (community power figure), Songye artist and nganga (ritual specialist), Wood, copper, brass, iron, fiber, snakeskin, leather, fur, feathers, mud, resin, Songye peoples
Nkishi (community power figure)
Songye artist and nganga (ritual specialist)
19th–first half of 20th century

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