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Start Over You searched for: Collection Joseph A. Towles Artifact Collection ✖Remove constraint Collection: Joseph A. Towles Artifact Collection Contributing Institution Avery Research Center at the College of Charleston ✖Remove constraint Contributing Institution: Avery Research Center at the College of Charleston Subject (Geographic) Africa, Africa, Sub-Saharan, Africa, Central, Congo (Democratic Republic) ✖Remove constraint Subject (Geographic): Africa, Africa, Sub-Saharan, Africa, Central, Congo (Democratic Republic)

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1. Ivory flower vase

Ivory flower vase
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory flower vase with human head, very stylized hair, made for hotel use; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

2. Ivory shoehorn

Ivory shoehorn
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory replica of a European shoehorn; profile of a woman with sculptured hair, black holes for eyes; torso resembles woman wearing a dress in the shape of a shoehorn; origin Mangbetu people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

3. Ivory toothpicks and holder

Ivory toothpicks and holder
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory toothpick holder with 10 ivory toothpicks, made for hotels; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

4. Ivory trilogy figures

Ivory trilogy figures
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory figures depicting the Three Wise Monkeys motif ("See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil"); origin Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

5. Bobblehead dog

Bobblehead dog
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Plastic mechanical "bobblehead" dog, tail and head move, made for hotel use; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

6. Ivory ornamental head

Ivory ornamental head
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory stylized Mangbetu head, poised upwards; origin Mangbetu people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

7. Ivory napkin ring

Ivory napkin ring
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory tooth or tusk carved into an ornate ring with a circle and dot motif; resembles a napkin ring; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

8. Ivory salt spoon

Ivory salt spoon
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory salt spoon, made for hotels; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

9. Ivory ornamental face mask

Ivory ornamental face mask
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ornamental face mask with open eyes, carved hair, and a string through the holes at top; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

10. Ivory knife rest

Ivory knife rest
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory knife rest with an elephant design, made for hotel use; origin Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

11. Ivory shell

Ivory shell
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory replica of a snail shell, seven holes indicate that it may have come unglued from another piece; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

12. Ivory blade

Ivory blade
Date:
1951 and 1971
Description:
Ivory blade with handle of a very well-carved Mangbetu-style woman's head.

13. Ivory toothpicks and holder

Ivory toothpicks and holder
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory toothpick holder with 10 ivory toothpicks, made for hotels, carved design on toothpicks; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

14. Ivory ornamental head

Ivory ornamental head
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory human head; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

15. Smoked ivory ornamental face mask

Smoked ivory ornamental face mask
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Smoked ivory ornamental face mask, openings for eyes, mouth has slight opening, showing teeth, crown on head; origin Epulu (Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly Zaire), but is a replica of masks created by the Pende people (also of DRC).

16. Ivory head

Ivory head
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory head used in Pende boys' initiation; two holes in each to attach to a string; they were worn as arm decorations; dark ivory head.

17. Ivory head

Ivory head
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory head used in Pende boys' initiation; two holes in each to attach to a string; they were worn as arm decorations.

18. Ivory head

Ivory head
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory head used in Pende boys' initiation; two holes in each to attach to a string; they were worn as arm decorations.

19. Winnowing basket

Winnowing basket
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Circular winnowing basket; tightly woven, wrapped loop attached to rim and below rim is one solid piece of bamboo for stability; origin Mbo people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

20. Ivory drummer carving

Ivory drummer carving
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory drummer with elongated head; hair, drum, and base are etched; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

21. Ivory crocodile carving

Ivory crocodile carving
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory crocodile with carved teeth; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

22. Ivory lion carving

Ivory lion carving
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory lion; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

23. Fire stick

Fire stick
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Base of a fire stick with four holes in it, broken at one end; origin Mbo people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

24. Fire stick

Fire stick
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Wooden stick with one end carved in a circular design; part of a fire stick, very smooth; origin Ituri rainforest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

25. Domestic knife

Domestic knife
Date:
1951 and 1971
Description:
Domestic knife with wooden handle; origin Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mbo people.

26. Ivory flower vase

Ivory flower vase
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory flower vase with human face on one side and lion on the other, made for hotel use; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

27. Harp

Harp
Date:
1951 and 1971
Description:
Five string harp with wooden arm and base, skin covering, strings still attached; origin Bira people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

28. Ceremonial knife

Ceremonial knife
Date:
1951 and 1971
Description:
Ceremonial knife used in a wedding exchange; curved metal blade with three holes, wooden handle with decorative metal wrap near the blade; origin Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire), Mangbetu people.

29. Winnowing basket

Winnowing basket
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Winnowing basket; origin Mbo people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

30. Table ornament

Table ornament
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory table ornament in two pieces, flying bird design, made for use in hotels; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

31. Ivory menu holder

Ivory menu holder
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory menu holder, flying bird design, made for use in hotels; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

32. Ivory menu holder

Ivory menu holder
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory menu holder, flying bird design, made for use in hotels; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

33. Patterned wooden comb

Patterned wooden comb
Date:
1951 and 1979
Description:
Wooden comb with carved pattern on both sides and a hole in the handle; origin Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mbo people.

34. Ivory menu holder

Ivory menu holder
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory menu holder made for use in hotels; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

35. Decorative elephant tusk

Decorative elephant tusk
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Very decorative carved elephant tusk with interconnected human and animal motifs, lions, elephant, alligator, antelope, and human; origin Ituri forest.

36. Decorative elephant tusk

Decorative elephant tusk
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Very decorative carved elephant tusk with interconnected human and animal motifs, lions, elephant, alligator, antelope, and human; origin Ituri forest.

37. Ivory ornamental face mask

Ivory ornamental face mask
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ornamental face mask with elongated nose, carved headpiece, closed eyes, and a string through the holes at top; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

38. Domestic knife

Domestic knife
Date:
1951 and 1971
Description:
Domestic knife with decorated wooden handle; origin Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mbo people.

39. Ivory candlesticks

Ivory candlesticks
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Four ivory candlesticks, made for hotels; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

40. Ivory head

Ivory head
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory head used in Pende boys' initiation; two holes in each to attach to a string; they were worn as arm decorations; white ivory head.

41. Ivory ornamental face mask

Ivory ornamental face mask
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ornamental face mask with carved headpiece, closed eyes, and a string through the holes at top; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

42. Ivory ornamental face mask

Ivory ornamental face mask
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ornamental face mask with open eyes, carved hair, and a string through the holes at top; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

43. Wooden pestle

Wooden pestle
Date:
1951 and 1971
Description:
Wooden pestle with flat top, rounded base, and design around the center; origin Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mbo people.

44. Ivory drummer carving

Ivory drummer carving
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory model of an Mbuti hunter, holes in each hand for two spears, holes for eyes, carved hair and garment; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

45. Ivory elephant carving

Ivory elephant carving
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory elephant with holes for eyes; tusks broken; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

46. Bush knife

Bush knife
Date:
1951 and 1971
Description:
Bush knife with machete-shaped blade and wooden handle wrapped in thin strips of metal; origin Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mbo people.

47. Domestic knife

Domestic knife
Date:
1951 and 1971
Description:
Domestic knife with decorated wood handle and metal blade, still sharp; origin Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mbo people.

48. Bush knife

Bush knife
Date:
1951 and 1971
Description:
Bush knife with machete-shaped blade and wooden handle with some decoration; origin Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mbo people.

49. Bush knife

Bush knife
Date:
1951 and 1971
Description:
Bush knife with a wooden handle and no decoration, blade in the shape of a small machete; origin Mbo people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

50. Kingele pallet bell

Kingele pallet bell
Date:
1950 and 1979
Description:
Metal kingele pallet bell used by dancers in the nkumbi initiation ritual of the Mbo people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

51. Ivory butter knife

Ivory butter knife
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory replicas of European knives; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

52. Ivory elephant carving

Ivory elephant carving
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory elephant with holes for eyes, origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

53. Ivory crocodile carving

Ivory crocodile carving
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory crocodile eating an antelope; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

54. Wooden pestle

Wooden pestle
Date:
1951 and 1971
Description:
Wooden pestle with some black stain; origin Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mbo people.

55. Wooden slit gong

Wooden slit gong
Date:
1951 and 1979
Description:
Wooden slit gong with design carved on top; origin Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bira people. Initials "KO KO" burned into one side.

56. Ivory figure

Ivory figure
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory figure of a man in bark cloth; he appears to be holding something in his right hand; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

57. Trumpet

Trumpet
Date:
1951 and 1971
Description:
Wooden side-blown trumpet bound with band of crocodile skin, small hole for hanging; origin Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mbo people.

58. Dipping Spoon

Dipping Spoon
Date:
1951 and 1971
Description:
Wooden dipping spoon with short handle and wide bowl, contains hole for hanging; origin Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mbo people.

59. Wooden pestle

Wooden pestle
Date:
1951 and 1971
Description:
Wooden pestle in the shape of a two-pronged fork, used by the Mbo people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but most likely Nandi in origin.

60. Rectangular wooden gong

Rectangular wooden gong
Date:
1951 and 1979
Description:
Rectangular gong; two pieces of wood fastened together with a glue-like substance; opening on one side, wood bows out on front and back, and top and bottom edges are jagged; origin Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mbo people.

61. Toy garden hoe

Toy garden hoe
Date:
1950 and 1979
Description:
Toy garden hoe used by Mbo people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

62. Whistle

Whistle
Date:
1951
Description:
Whistle made of wood with a metal ring on one end and wax or gum stuck to the outside of the wood; appears to be in the shape of an animal on one end.

63. Ivory elephant carving

Ivory elephant carving
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory elephant, origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

64. Ivory woman figure

Ivory woman figure
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory figure of a woman wearing a skirt.

65. Elephant hair bracelet with charm

Elephant hair bracelet with charm
Date:
1950
Description:
Elephant hair bracelet; three rings connected in middle by twisted pieces and a square piece made of wood or ivory; origin Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mbo people.

66. Metal bracelet

Metal bracelet
Date:
1950
Description:
Metal wire bracelet with four wires connected by two wider twisted wires and with movable circular wires for decoration; origin Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mbo people.

67. Elephant hair bracelet

Elephant hair bracelet
Date:
1950
Description:
Elephant hair bracelet; four rings with two decorative twisted pieces; origin Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mbo people.

68. Metal bracelet

Metal bracelet
Date:
1950
Description:
Solid metal ring visibly fused together at a point; origin Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mbo people; Circumference.

69. Ivory buttons

Ivory buttons
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Four bullet-shaped wooden buttons with carved faces; four holes in each to attach to garment; origin Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

70. Ivory buttons

Ivory buttons
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Two bullet-shaped ivory buttons with carved faces; four holes in each to attach to garment; origin Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

71. Domestic knife

Domestic knife
Date:
1951
Description:
Women's domestic knife with wooden handle; origin Mbo people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

72. Bracelet

Bracelet
Date:
1950
Description:
Braided brown bracelet from Mbo people of Zaire (later, the Democratic Republic of the Congo).

73. Metal bracelet

Metal bracelet
Date:
1950
Description:
Metal bracelet; origin Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mbo people.

74. Metal bracelet

Metal bracelet
Date:
1950
Description:
Metal bracelet; origin Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mbo people.

75. Domestic knife

Domestic knife
Date:
1951
Description:
Women's domestic knife; metal spiraled around wooden handle; metal blade is machete-shaped; origin Mbo people of the Ituri rainforest.

76. Nuchuba gameboard

Nuchuba gameboard
Date:
1950
Description:
Wooden nuchuba board with four rows of eight large holes; game is played by filling two inside rows of holes with four beans each and successfully moving all beans to the outside rows; origin Tutsi people (Central Africa).

77. Knife with bone handle

Knife with bone handle
Date:
1951
Description:
Knife with bone handle and metal blade; origin Ituri rainforest, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

78. Stone candlestick

Stone candlestick
Description:
Stone candlestick made for hotels; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

79. Ivory head

Ivory head
Date:
1951 and 1989
Description:
Ivory head used in Pende boys' initiation; two holes in each to attach to a string; they were worn as arm decorations.

80. Hunting whistle

Hunting whistle
Date:
1951
Description:
Wooden hunting whistle bound with twine; origin Mbuti people of the Ituri rainforest.

81. Metal bracelet

Metal bracelet
Date:
1950
Description:
Metal bracelet; origin Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mbo people.

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