Bundle of wooden arrows wrapped with a piece of raffia, seven with metal tips, fourteen in all; end of one is notched with traces of poison; origin Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire), Mbuti people.
Currency in the form of an anklet in high relief. Created with puddle mold method of casting. Origin Ekonda people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
Currency in the form of a heavy hemispherical bangle with beveled edges. Created with puddle mold method of casting. Origin Bambole, Bayele, and Balengo people of the Mbole region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
Wooden ceremonial mask made for the Bwadi ya Kifwebe association, a group that polices social behavior and neutralizes disruptive elements within the Luba people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The masks are worn in a variety of ceremonies.
Heavy dark wooden chief's stool supported by a carving of a female figure. Origin Kuba people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
Front and profile views of a male wooden figure carrying a vessel in left hand and a dagger in right. Origin Bena Lulua people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
Front and profile views of a female wooden figure carrying a vessel in each hand. Origin Bena Lulua people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
Brass anklet with five cowry shells embedded in clay (one missing) and a design etched on either side; origin Ituri region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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).
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.
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.
Smoked ivory ornamental face mask, mouth is wide oval, eyes are a rectangle; origin Epulu (Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly Zaire), but is a replica of masks created by the Dan people of Cote d'Ivoire.
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).
Ivory toothpick holder with 10 ivory toothpicks, made for hotels, carved design on toothpicks; origin eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
Wooden face mask decorated with white, blue, and red paint; mouth carved in an oval, eyes have triangular lids with blue dots, chin has blue dots, cheeks have red and white dots, forehead has blue dots and white V-lines, straw beard; string attached to two nails in back; origin Ndaka people of the Ituri rainforest.
Ten-note barrel-shaped sound box, also known as board piano or thumb piano and lukembi, likembe, or kalimba; wooden with keys made from spoon handles, bicycle spikes, or metal keys hammered to the desired shape; keys plucked with thumb and fingers; open at top and closed at bottom; one hole in bottom and one on back; semi-circular red markings on sides and top, rectangles etched on sides; metal wrapped around keys; origin Bira people of the Ituri rainforest.
Twelve-note sound box, also known as thumb piano, board piano, lukembi, or kalimba; wooden with keys made from spoon handles, bicycle spikes, or metal keys hammered to the desired shape; keys plucked with thumb and fingers; one hole on base and one on back; one key has a coil wrap; crudely decorated with lines and scratch-like marks on back; origin Ngwanda people of Central Africa.
Miniature five-string harp with wooden arm and base; base covered with skin that has been nailed down, arm has leopard type decoration, base has markings, hole cut out on top of base; origin Mangbetu people of the Ituri forest.
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).
Wooden figure of a leopard man standing over an initiate of the nkumbi circumcision ritual; larger figure has spotted covering, slits for eyes and openings for arms, textured knee-length pants; origin Ituri forest, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
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).
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).
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).
Wooden nkumbi household stool used in initiation with two pieces of wood lying on top; four legs, darker in color, curve upward, 3 holes in each side on the darker band of color; one piece of wood is inscribed "Innsbruck Sept 27 1953"; origin Bira people of the Ituri rainforest.
Sixteen-note sound box, also known as board piano or thumb piano and lukembi, likembe, or kalimba; wooden with keys made from spoon handles, bicycle spikes, or metal keys hammered to the desired shape; keys plucked with thumb and fingers; two holes under the keys and some decoration on the side; inscription "RUMBA OPIKA MIE LEON L24B1954.BUNIA"; origin Bira people of the Ituri rainforest.
Twelve-note sound box, also known as thumb piano, board piano, lukembi, or kalimba; wooden with keys made from spoon handles, bicycle spikes, or metal keys hammered to the desired shape; keys plucked with thumb and fingers; two holes on bottom and one on back; crudely decorated with lines and scratch-like marks; origin Lese people of the Ituri rainforest.
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).
A piece of bark cloth, a non-woven textile made by beating the inner bark of certain trees and bushes until it is fine and soft. Reddish brown with faint orange lines, design is made of small rectangles separated by two lines; origin Ituri forest, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
A piece of bark cloth, a non-woven textile made by beating the inner bark of certain trees and bushes until it is fine and soft. Reddish orange and brown with intricate geometric patterns on light brown background; origin Ituri forest, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
Wooden figure of Mbuti carrying a well-carved hunting net, eyes closed, on an oval base; origin Ituri forest, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
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).
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.
Elephant hunting spear with wooden handle, metal blade, and cord wrapped around the handle attaching the blade; thought to be made by villagers and used by the Mbuti of the Ituri forest.
Hunting spear with wooden handle, metal blade with intricate shape, and cord wrapped around the handle attaching the blade; origin Bira people of the Ituri rainforest.
Wooden stool supported by four nearly identical carved figures with red mouths; three figures hold the seat of the stool with extended arms; geometric design at base and top; origin Ituri rainforest.
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).
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).
A piece of bark cloth, a non-woven textile made by beating the inner bark of certain trees and bushes until it is fine and soft. Brown with darker brown geometric designs; orign Ituri forest, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
A piece of bark cloth, a non-woven textile made by beating the inner bark of certain trees and bushes until it is fine and soft. Brown with geometric squares; origin Ituri forest, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
Wooden figure with both animal and human features, bowl-shaped headpiece; wood is soft, appears to be a fetish figure; origin Ndaka people, Ituri forest, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
Wooden male fetish figure, hands joined together under chin, helmet-like head covering, rectangular box cut into center; origin Epulu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
Wooden figure that has both animal and human features, standing on two legs with elongated snout, 6 large teeth, head cover with pieces resembling horns and a protruding piece in the middle; origin Ituri forest, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
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).
Wooden stool used in nkumbi initiation; bottom has three incised marks on each side, handle carved on one side near the center column, and incised area in the middle of the top; origin Bira people of the Epulu region of the Ituri rainforest.
Wooden stool used in nkumbi initiation graduation; top is scalloped, base is square, four decorated block shapes between base and top; etched into one side is "H_ _ _ _ _"; origin Epulu region of the Ituri rainforest.
Wooden initation doctor's mask with beard; ears, eyes, nose, and mouth all have holes; eyebrows carved down to the mouth in a series of reverse S's creating cheek bones; touched the nose is a carved vertical band; ears protude inward to eyes; faded white dots over entire face.
