The
precolonial and colonial eras of Kongolese history are well represented in material culture. The
sources utilized in this answer are a funerary figure, now in the Stanley Museum of Art at the
University of Iowa, and an ivory tusk, now in the collection of the Smithsonian Institutions
National Museum of African Art.
The funerary figure is wood and shows a
kneeling female figure with outstretched arms. The universitys website suggests an origin in the
Lower Congo River provenience. The figure holds a baby in her hands. The female wears only a
brimless cap, possibly woven or braided, and a small loincloth; around her neck is a single
circlet, and around each upper arm is a double armband. There is some scarification on the upper
arms and torso. Her eyes are half open and her mouth is open, revealing her teeth. There is a
black, triangular patch painted (or possibly tattooed) on each cheek. While the body proportions
do not approximate those of actual humans, the overall style of representation is naturalistic.
The facial features suggest sadness and possibly indicate mourning for a deceased
child.
The tusk made of ivory (from an elephant) is elaborately carved in a
spiral pattern all the way around. It features a band that wraps around the tusks and serves as
a path along which figures walk. A variety of different individuals are depicted, with
distinctive clothing and facial features, as well as several animals. There is evidence of trade
or possibly contact as some of the figures carry guns (image 6 of 48). Other figures engage in
traditional activities, such as playing a drum (image 7). Some of the armed figures apparently
depict Europeans or Africans wearing European clothesperhaps military dress (image 9). One
sequence of images may depict slaves or prisoners of war, as the people are chained together
(image 18).
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