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Side-Blown Horn

Side-Blown Horn

Unknown

An ivory horn is a royal privilege. The elongated head expresses Mangbetu ideals of regal beauty. Relief decorations suggest the king’s multiple powers: The three-pronged shape, a throwing knife, refers to battle and hunting prowess as well as material wealth, since such knives were used as currency; and the serpent symbolizes extraordinary supernatural abilities because of its ability to shed its skin and pass easily beneath and above ground.
Artist
Unknown (Congolese, Mangbetu or Zande People)
Title
Side-Blown Horn
Date
ca. 1930
Medium
Ivory
Dimensions
1 1/2 x 17 3/8 x 2 3/8 in. Overall
Credit
J. David and Laura Seefried Horsfall Endowment Fund purchase
Accession No.
1991.32
Classification
Decorative Carving
Geography
Democratic Republic of Congo

Related

1920s, given by an unidentified "transient world traveler" to an unknown private collection (Akron, Ohio) "to cover the cost of room and board"; sold by John Neylon of Hampton Antiques (Chagrin Falls, OH) to dealer David A. Ackley; 1991, David A. Ackley (Ypsilanti, MI) sold to Elvehjem Museum of Art [now Chazen Museum of Art]

  • Exhibition gallery guide, "Revealing Forms: African Art from the Elvehjem Collection." 2002.
  • Drewal, Henry John. "African Art at the Elvehjem." Bulletin/Biennial Report 2001-2003. Elvehjem Museum of Art (2003): 16-36. pp. 16-36
  • Elvehjem Museum of Art. "Artscene." Vol. 7, No. 4, Sept/Oct 1991.

  • Revealing Forms: African Art from the Collection: Elvehjem Museum of Art, 4/20/2002–6/16/2002

The Chazen Museum of Art welcomes comments or inquiries about works in our collection. Please allow two–three weeks for a response. Chazen staff is not able to provide valuations or authentications and such inquiries cannot be answered.

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