COLLECTION NAME:
The AMICA Library
Record
AMICA ID:
MIA_.72.70.1
AMICA Library Year:
1998
Object Type:
Sculpture
Creator Name:
Kota
Creator Nationality:
African; Central African; Gabonese
Creator Role:
sculptor
Creator Name-CRT:
Kota
Title:
Reliquary figure
View:
Front
Creation Date:
19th century
Creation Start Date:
1800
Creation End Date:
1899
Materials and Techniques:
wood, copper
Dimensions:
H.22 x W.11-5/8 x D.2 in.
Component Measured:
overall
Measurement Unit:
in
AMICA Contributor:
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Owner Location:
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
ID Number:
72.70.1
Credit Line:
Gift of the Northern Star Foundation
Context:
Kota peoples would often honor their ancestors by keeping their skull and bones preserved in reliquaries. These reliquaries, often large baskets or boxes, were topped by guardian figures called mbulu ngulu. These highly abstract figures also served as symbolic portraits.
Related Image Identifier Link:
MIA_.2676c.tif
