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Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Kongo Ivory Flywhisk, 20th Century CE

Kongo Ivory Flywhisk, 20th Century CE

Ivory and Hair
11
PF.5093
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Two naked female figures sit back to back, nearly identical with hands placed comfortably on slightly spread knees. A barrel-shaped extension, with double incised ridges encircling top and middle portions,...
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Two naked female figures sit back to back, nearly identical with hands placed comfortably on slightly spread knees. A barrel-shaped extension, with double incised ridges encircling top and middle portions, is attached to the female's heads at the base. Thick horse hair flows from the top of the barrel like smoke from a pipe. A tubular section is carved with a zig-zag design, with egg shapes nestled between each band. The end swells into a bulbous shape before narrowing sharply to a point.

Kongo sculptors are well-known for their refined work, particularly in elite objects, of which the flywhisk is one of the most impressive. Those who can afford ivory use the whisk not only for practical purposes, but also as a sign of wealth and social position. Seated female figures appear on other sculptural works as symbols of sexuality and fertility. Seeing the graceful form of this flywhisk it is easy to understand why it is regarded as an object of prestige.
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