Ancient Kongo (Unknown)

The Kongo Kingdom was a vast, politically sophisticated state that spanned parts of present-day Angola, the Republic of Congo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo from the 14th through 18th centuries. Kongo artists produced sculpture in ivory, wood, and stone, with richly decorated ivory oliphants (side-blown horns) and figurative scepters (nkama ntinu) serving as emblems of royal and chiefly authority.

The most recognized Kongo art form is the nkisi power figure, a portable shrine designed to house spiritual forces. After the Kongo king's conversion to Christianity in the late 15th century, artists created a distinctive fusion of Christian and indigenous imagery: crucifixes with African hairstyles, Saint Anthony figures used for both Christian worship and local healing practices. Our collection includes 4 works at the Met and the Quai Branly Museum in Paris.