Object Details
- Pende artist
- Label Text
- This sculpture combines the face of a classic Pende mask with the striking and unique iconography of a man riding a buffalo. While the wild buffalo is widespread as an emblem of a ruler’s power in many parts of Africa, art historian Herbert Cole has pointed out a specific inspiration for the Pende theme. In the 18th and 19th century, merchants of mixed descent, called Pombieros in Portuguese, rode oxen or bullocks on long distance trading missions into Angola and the Congo region. A circa 1870 photograph published by Cole is particularly significant for the choice of saddle cloth--an actual leopard skin. The leopard is another royal emblem and the skin is often used as a seat, rug or costume in court ceremonies. This is particularly appropriate if we consider that the horned headdress of the rider is comparable to the fiber attachments of the carved wood mask named fumu, the mask of the chief.
- Description
- Wood male figure with a four peak headdress riding a horned animal, probably a buffalo, on a domed base with straight sides. Red pigment adorns the rider's face with the rest of the sculpture in a dark color with blue pigment showing in patches. Two brass tacks are set vertically on the center of the forehead to the bridge of the nose.
- Provenance
- Anthony Slayter Ralph, California
- Dr. Robert and Helen Kuhn, Los Angeles, -- to 1991
- Joseph and Barbara Goldenberg, Los Angeles, 1991 to 2001
- Barbara Goldenberg, Los Angeles, 2001 to 2010
- Unknown maker; left community at unknown date under unknown circumstances; acquired at unknown date by Anthony Slayter-Ralph (born 1945), California; sold to Dr. Robert (1916-2006) and Helen (1920-2017) Kuhn, Los Angeles, likely after 1972; sale, “The Kuhn Collection of African Art,” Sotheby’s, New York, November 20, 1991, no. 90; sold to Joseph (1925-2001) and Barbara (1928-2010) Goldenberg, Los Angeles, 1991; bequeathed to the National Museum of African Art, 2011.
- - CAM 4-24-25
- Exhibition History
- Visionary: Viewpoints on Africa's Arts, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., November 4, 2017-ongoing
- Conversations: African and African American Artworks in Dialogue - From the Collections of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art and Camille O. and William H. Cosby, Jr., National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, November 7, 2014-January 24, 2016
- Treasures, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., November 17, 2004-August 15, 2005
- Icons: Ideals and Power in the Art of Africa, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., October 25, 1989-September 3, 1990
- Rider of Power in African Sculpture, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, November 23, 1983-May 6, 1984
- Published References
- Cole, Herbert M. 1983. "Riders of Power in African Sculpture: Exhibition Nov. 23, 1983-May 6, 1984." Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, no. 6.
- Cole, Herbert M. 1989. Icons: Ideals and Power in the Art of Africa. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, pp. 130-131, no. 154.
- Kreamer, Christine Mullen and Adrienne L. Childs (eds). 2014. Conversations: African and African American Artworks in Dialogue from the Collections of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art and Camille O. and William H. Cosby, Jr. Washington, D.C.: National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, pp. 129, 138, no. 75, pl. 55.
- Patton, Sharon F. 2004. Treasures: Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. Washington, D.C.: National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution.
- Robbins, Warren M. and Nancy I. Nooter. 1989. African Art in American Collections. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, p. 398, no. 1015.
- Sotheby's. 1991. The Kuhn Collection of African Art. Auction catalogue (November 20). New York, no. 90.
- Strother, Z. S. 2008. Visions of Africa: Pende. Milan: 5 Continents Editions, pp. 84, 107, no. 27.
- Content Statement
- As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.
- Image Requests
- High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/
- Credit Line
- Bequest of Barbara and Joseph Goldenberg
- Early 20th century
- Object number
- 2011-4-1
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- Figure
- Medium
- Wood, pigment, brass tacks
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 56.5 x 23 x 32.5 cm (22 1/4 x 9 1/16 x 12 13/16 in.)
- Geography
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- See more items in
- National Museum of African Art Collection
- Exhibition
- Visionary: Viewpoints on Africa's Arts
- On View
- NMAfA, Second Level Gallery (2193)
- National Museum of African Art
- Topic
- Leadership
- Status
- equestrian
- male
- bovine
- Trade
- Record ID
- nmafa_2011-4-1
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys70a534384-df19-4ee4-a970-da0ebed321bb
