Bakongo Christian religious Artifact made of wood, DRC

19th Century or earlier
Wood
19 x 4 x 1 cm
7 1/2 x 1 5/8 x 3/8 in
2076
€ 5,000.00

This artifact carved in wood is from the Kongo people of the Congo. One side represents a crucified Christ ,whilst the other shows a representation of the Virgin Mary. It’s clearly an object of authority and prestige and a combination of locally grounded and foreign insignia.Very nice use patina. The Kingdom of Kongo, founded in the 14th century, has some of the earliest Christian influence in sub-Saharan Africa. The conversion to Christianity in 1512 of King Alfoso I of the Kongo saw the subsequent creation by Kongolese sculptors of Christian crucifixes and images of the Virgin Mary and St Anthony after Portuguese prototypes. In time, the local form of Christianity blurred increasingly with traditional beliefs and Christian symbols became emblems of power and instruments in local ritual. The Musee du Quai Branly Jacques Chirac in Paris held an exhibition on Christian-related art from the Congo in 2017. A catalogue Du Jordain au Congo: Art et Christianisme en Afrique Centrale, was published in association with the exhibition.

Provenance
Collected by Leon Van Lierde family,Brussels-Belgian Private Collection