Central Africa

Objects include prime examples of ritual figures and masks from the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Cameroon Grassfields, an impressive array of weapons, and contemporary photographs by Angèle Etoundi Essamba.

Ikula Ceremonial Knife

Unidentified Kuba maker

Ikula Ceremonial Knife

19th-20th century

180.27.25946

Elephant Mask

Unidentified Bamileke maker

Elephant Mask

late 19th-early 20th century

181.20.26274

Elephant Mask

Unidentified Bamileke maker

Elephant Mask

late 19th century

181.20.26275

Mukyeem (Mask of the King-as-Elephant)

Unidentified Kuba maker

Mukyeem (Mask of the King-as-Elephant)

19th-20th century

2008.89

Bird-headed Ceremonial Knife (musele)

Unidentified Fang or Kota maker

Bird-headed Ceremonial Knife (musele)

collected about 1892

2013.75.1

Executioner's Sword

Unidentified Teke or Ngala maker

Executioner's Sword

19th century

39.64.6954

Shield

Unidentified Ngombe maker

Shield

late 19th century

39.64.6960

Trumgash (Knife)

Unidentified Mangbetu maker

Trumgash (Knife)

19th-20th century

40.15.12620

Executioner's Sword

Unidentified Ngala maker

Executioner's Sword

late 19th-early 20th century

40.15.12622

Sword

Unidentified Lele maker

Sword

19th century

40.15.12625

Knife

Unidentified Ngbandi, Azande, or Bandi maker

Knife

19th-early 20th century

40.15.12626

Woman's Armlet

Unidentified Bana maker

Woman's Armlet

19th-20th century

985.7.26431

Mbulu Ngulu, Reliquary Figure

Unidentified Kota-Obamba maker

Mbulu Ngulu, Reliquary Figure

19th century

986.60.26660

Mbuya Initiation Mask

Unidentified Western Pende maker

Mbuya Initiation Mask

19th century

986.9.26650

Medicine Mat / Power Emblem

Unidentified Ekpe Society maker, Banyang

Medicine Mat / Power Emblem

late 19th-20th century

987.18.26714

Janus Figure: Male and Female Standing Back to Back

Unidentified Hemba maker

Janus Figure: Male and Female Standing Back to Back

early 20th century

990.53.27173

Throwing Knife

Unidentified Bwaka or Gobu maker

Throwing Knife

19th-20th century

991.48.29011

Ceremonial Axe, Insignia of Rank

Unidentified Songe maker

Ceremonial Axe, Insignia of Rank

19th-20th centruy

991.48.29012

Display Knife

Unidentified Konda maker

Display Knife

19th-20th century

992.38.29079

Nkisi Nkondi (Power Figure)

Solongo style | Unidentified Kongo maker

Nkisi Nkondi (Power Figure)

19th century

996.22.30233

Power Figure

Unidentified Yaka maker

Power Figure

early 20th century

996.25.30315

Oracle Figure

Unidentified Pende maker

Oracle Figure

first half of the 20th century

996.31.30328

Mebele a lulendo (Sword of Royal Authority)

Unidentified Kongo maker

Mebele a lulendo (Sword of Royal Authority)

19th century or earlier

997.20.30355

Memorial Figure of a Lineage Head

Unidentified Hemba-Niembo maker

Memorial Figure of a Lineage Head

late 19th-early 20th century

998.13.30366

Rattle with Female Figure

Unidentified Luba maker

Rattle with Female Figure

late 19th-early 20th century

998.59.30367

Cross

Unidentified African-Portuguese maker

Cross

19th century

999.3.30469

Esprit 2

Angèle Etoundi Essamba, Cameroonian, born 1962

Esprit 2

1985

ph.2003.30.3

Mbumba-bwiti, Half Figure for a Reliquary

Unidentified Tsogo maker

Mbumba-bwiti, Half Figure for a Reliquary

early 20th century

s.967.122

Stool with Caryatid

Shankadi style | Unidentified Luba maker

Stool with Caryatid

late 19th-early 20th century

s.972.189

Initiation Mask

Unidentified Suku maker

Initiation Mask

19th century

s.972.8

Kifwebe Bakashi, Female Mask of the Kifwebe Society

Unidentified Songe maker

Kifwebe Bakashi, Female Mask of the Kifwebe Society

19th-20th century

s.976.258