Box

AF506A

From: Zaire | Belgian Congo | Kasai District

Curatorial Section: African

Object Number AF506A
Current Location Collections Storage
Culture Bushongo
Provenience Zaire | Belgian Congo | Kasai District
Section African
Materials Wood
Technique Carved
Description

Carved, square wooden pigment box with lid; box is intricately carved with series of interlaced loops; knob protrudes from center of lid; directly above this on slanted rim is a hole, a second hole is found directly below this on the bottom of the box-two strands of twisted fiber are looped through these two holes, ends knotted together then extended to form a loop, iron hook is attached to this end; exterior of box is dark brown in color; interior of box has a red hue due to pigment it once held.

With design borrowed or modified from textile patterns. The interlaced loops on the top of the lid are known as "buina", the sculptor's knife, which has an oval blade. The simple broad interlaced bands on two opposite sloping sides of the lid are called "nyinga", smoke. The interlacing bands composed of parallel lines on the other two sides are called "ikunji", the eye. The iron hook is for hanging up the box in the house.

Height 8.5 cm
Length 17 cm
Width 16 cm
Credit Line Purchased from J. F. G. Umlauff, 1912
Other Number 609 - Original Number | 034 - Cast Number

Report problems and issues to digitalmedia@pennmuseum.org.