The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 29, 2024

Scepter

Scepter

late 1800s–early 1900s
(most likely), Cabinda, or Republic of Congo, probably Kongo-style (Yombe sub-group)
Overall: 28 x 2.5 x 4 cm (11 x 1 x 1 9/16 in.)
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

Scepters often represent the chief sitting atop a bound prisoner or attribute to a violent death.

Description

Used by male chiefs, ivory scepters were symbols of status indicating worldly authority and supernatural influence. The use of ivory implies that the chief has the fatal power of an elephant. The figurine shows a chief enthroned on the bound body of a criminal destined for such a death. A medicine package would have been enclosed within the container extending from the figure’s head, bestowing supernatural powers.
  • ?-1972
    (René De Wolf, Brussels, BE, before 1972, sold to René and Odette Delenne)
    1972-2010
    René [1901-1998] and Odette Delenne [1925-2012], Brussels, BE, 2010, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    2010
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH, 2010
  • Bastin, Marie-Louise, et al. Utotombo. L'Art d'Afrique noire dans les collections privées belges: Société des Expositions du Palais des Beaux-Arts, Bruxelles, 25 mars-5 juin 1988, 205. Exh. Cat. Brussels: Société des Expositions du Palais des Beaux-Arts, March 25-June 5, 1988. Reproduced and mentioned: p. 205, cat. 163
    Lehuard, Raoul. Art Bakongo. Insigne de pouvorir. Le scepter 4. Arnouville, FR: Arts d'Afrique Noire, 1998, 962-963. Reproduced and mentioned: pp. 962-963, no. M3
    Petridis, Constantine. "René and Odette Delenne." In Tribal Art XV-4, no. 61 (Autumn 2011): 121. Reproduced: p. 121, fig. 6
    Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland Art: The Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine. Vol. 53 no. 05, September/October 2013 Mentioned & reproduced: p. 12 archive.org
    Petridis, Constantine, et al. Fragments of the Invisible: The René and Odette Delenne Collection of Congo Sculpture. Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Museum of Art. Milan: 5 Continents Editions, 2013, 24, 41,45, 112. Mentioned: pp. 24, 112-113; reproduced: p. 45, cat. 9
  • African Master Carvers: Known and Famous. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (March 26-July 16, 2017).
    Fragments of the Invisible: The Rene and Odette Delenne Collection of Congo Sculpture. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (October 27, 2013-February 9, 2014).
    Société des Expositions du Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels, BE (March 25-June 5, 1988)
  • {{cite web|title=Scepter|url=false|author=|year=late 1800s–early 1900s|access-date=29 March 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2010.447