Congo Republic

The Congo Republic

A territory lying to the north and west of the Zaire river and its tributary, the Oubangui (Ubangi). It has a short Atlantic coastline but its northern borders lie some 750 miles inland. The capital is Brazzaville on the Zaire river. The northern areas are largely forested and swampy. Those to the south and west are partly forest and partly hilly savannah.

Kwele

The Kwele live on either side of the borders of northern Gabon and the northern Congo Republic.

Yombe female standing figure

Yombe female standing figure
view: front

This figure is made from a smooth polished wood and stands on a square plinth. It shows detailed facial features including inlaid glass eyes, carved eyebrows, full lips and filed teeth. The mitre-like hairstyle displays a circular carved feature on the back of the head.


Horn with mask

horn with mask
view: front

This horn was side blown on the concave curve where the tusk cavity ends. At the tip of the tusk is a carved face with mitre-like headdress. The ivory is quite discoloured and there is some erosion at the base.


Trumpet with a maternity group

trumpet with a maternity group
view: front

Sitting atop this carved ivory trumpet is the figure of a woman offering a suckling baby her right breast. The female figure shows a pointed hat or coiffure and wears armlets and anklets, indicating high rank. There is some damage to the base of the instrument and on the back.


Mother and child group

mother and child group
view: front

This standing figure of a mother and child is carved from a mid-brown wood with a soft sheen. The faces of both the mother and child are particularly well carved and detailed and both look out to the viewer.


Yombe wooden mask

Yombe wooden mask
view: front

This mask is made of a light-coloured wood and displays painted lips and eyebrows, with a vertical motif painted on the forehead. There are apertures for the mouth and the eyes, and a hole on each side of the mask by the ear suggests attachments for wearing.


Jokwe mask

Jokwe mask
view: front

This mask is attached to a wooden base and carved from a dark wood. Both the base and the face of the mask show evidence of a red pigment. There are slits for the eyes and the open mouth shows filed teeth. The well-formed ears appear relatively high up on the mask.


Porcelain and wood seated figure

porcelain and wood seated figure
view: front

This cross-legged figure has detailed facial features with porcelain-inlaid eyes and black painted pupils. The plaited skullcap and armlets suggest chiefly status.


Seated figure of a chieftainess

seated figure of a chieftainess
view: front

This carved female figure is seated and holds a pot or cup in her left hand and a staff in her right. The ears are pierced and a metal loop remains in the left while the right ear lobe has broken. The teeth appear to be filed but the front teeth are missing.


Standing female figure

standing female figure
view: front

This female ‘nkisi’ or


Wood and cane pipe

wood and cane pipe
view: front

This pipe is of a small size with a short stem and has more in common with European versions, than African. It shows a Turk’s head with a plaited ring of cane that binds the end of the pipe bowl to the stem.