Figurine: Three Males

Unknown

18th–20th century · Ivory · Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Souvenir ivories from the Loango Coast of west-central Africa were created in many forms. Among them were full elephant tusks carved in relief with multiple scenes, relief-carved plaques, and figurines such as this example. Carved onto the convex portion of an elephant's tusk, this figurine portrays three male figures wearing plain wrappers and arm bangles. The figures likely represent the large numbers of local workers who labored along the coast under the employment of foreign maritime traders.

Artist

Unknown

Date

18th–20th century

Medium

Ivory

Culture

Kongo peoples

Department

Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Credit line

The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Gift of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1964