Artwork Page for Crucifix

Details / Information for Crucifix

Crucifix

late 1800s-early 1900s

Africa, Central Africa, Kongo Kingdom, Kongo-style maker

(s)
Medium
Copper alloy, wood, upholstery studs, and iron alloy
Measurements
Overall: 44.7 x 22.2 x 3.2 cm (17 5/8 x 8 3/4 x 1 1/4 in.)
Credit Line
René and Odette Delenne Collection, Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund 2010.444
Public Domain
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Location
108A African
Print
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Did You Know?

This x-shapes of the cross and on Christ's wrapper are forms with symbolic meaning tied to the life cycle in both Catholicism and in the indigenous Kongo religion.

Description

An artist made this crucifix from wood and metal centuries after Catholicism became the Kongo Kingdom’s official faith. Following King Nzinga a Nkuwu's 1491 decision to convert, Kongo Christianity uniquely reflected its surroundings. While early Christ images arrived from Portugal and Italy, this later local example has braids like a Kongo man. Worn smooth by repeated touch, the lower figure is the Virgin Mary or a worshiper knelt in mourning or respect. The x-shape incised into his waist wrapper references the dikenga dia Kongo. This likely pre-Christian symbol diagrams the life cycle's four points.
A metal figure represents the crucified Christ, head tilted toward his right shoulder, with thin arms and legs and a long torso with lines carved on it suggesting ribs. An "X" shape is carved into the wrapper around his waist. On the cross below Christ's feet, a roughly coin-sized figure of two ovals suggesting a body and head creates "U" shapes with their arms as they arch them up in prayer.

Crucifix

late 1800s-early 1900s

Africa, Central Africa, Kongo Kingdom, Kongo-style maker(s)

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