The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 21, 2025

"Elephant Bridge" souvenir

1900s

Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 20th century

Elephant ivory
Overall: 75.9 cm (29 7/8 in.)
Gift of the Gilpin Players of Karamu House 1929.342
Location: Not on view

Description

This carving was made to appeal to Europeans and Americans in Central Africa, and did not draw from local aesthetics.
  • 1928
    Acquired by Paul Travis on behalf of the Gilpin Players of Karamu House in Ekibondo, Democratic Republic of the Congo (then-Belgian Congo)
    1928
    The Gilpin Players of Karamu House
    1929–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art by gift
    Provenance Footnotes
    1 It appears on a checklist of "African Material" circa 1928 as one of "3 carved ivory. Mangbettu, Ekibondis Village." Archives of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
  • {{cite web|title="Elephant Bridge" souvenir|url=false|author=|year=1900s|access-date=21 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1929.342