Panel

Object Details

Nkanu artist

Label Text

The Nkanu peoples of the Democratic Republic of the Congo carve rectangular wall panels from a light wood. All of the panels photographed and/or collected in the 20th century evince a uniform style. They depict human figures or animals in high relief and painted. The background surfaces of the panels are entirely covered with a variety of geometric decorations including circles, lozenges, triangles, zigzag lines and leaf patterns. The snake is represented by a linked diamond or triangle pattern, a design also associated with the ancestors. Iconographic images of people, animals, and geometric patterns emphasize respect for authority, cooperation, and other virtues taught to initiates during their period of seclusion.

This panel features a gaboon viper, a highly poisonous, deadly snake. However, it does not madly attack but waits for prey--a patient predator, not a crazed killer. The panels may also include events from the initiation as well as images with sexual connotations. At the end of initiation, the panels are put on public display in three sided roofed shelters built between the village and the initiation camp.

Description

Wood rectangular panel with high relief carving of a downward descending snake and painted overall with geometric patterns of triangles and Maltese crosses in red, yellow, slate grey and black with white dots, and white outline.

Provenance

Ambassador Kenneth and Bonnie Brown, Washington, D.C., purchased at a gallery in Kinshasa, D.R.C., September 1966 to 2012

Exhibition History

Artful Animals, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., July 1, 2009-July 25, 2010

Content Statement

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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

Gift of Ambassador Kenneth and Bonnie Brown

Early 20th century

Object number

2012-16-1

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

Sculpture

Medium

Wood, pigment

Dimensions

H x W x D: 64.8 x 22.2 x 7.7 cm (25 1/2 x 8 3/4 x 3 1/16 in.)

Geography

Democratic Republic of the Congo

See more items in

National Museum of African Art Collection

National Museum of African Art

Topic

Initiation

snake

Male use

geometric motif

male

Record ID

nmafa_2012-16-1

Metadata Usage (text)

Usage conditions apply

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys7bd59c352-ac3d-4bc6-9972-53837a9142be