Staff with Male Figure Finial (mvwala)
Artist
Kongo artist
Dateearly–mid 20th century
MediumWood
Dimensions40 1/2 x 2 x 2 in. (102.9 x 5.1 x 5.1 cm)
ClassificationsSculpture
Credit LineGift of Bob Bronson
Object numberG.76.20.4
On View
Not on viewSometimes Kongo figures are shown in European dress, as in this portrayal of a man in a tailored jacket and shorts. The Kongo people have interacted with Europeans for centuries, beginning with their initial contact in 1482 with Portuguese navigators, missionaries, and traders. It is not unusual to see European costume elements and other western motifs incorporated into their art.Exhibition HistoryRaleigh, NC, North Carolina Museum of Art, “Recent Acquisitions,” September 25-October 23, 1977.
Raleigh, NC, North Carolina Museum of Art, "The People's Collection, Reimagined," October 7, 2022–March 8, 2023. Object Rights Statement
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