Crucifix "nkangi kiditu", 19th century · D. R. Congo, Bakongo · ID: 3045627
Abbaye Notre-Dame de Langonnet, Musée Africain, France (since 1894)
Gottfried Künzi, Oberdorf / Solothurn Switzerland
René Rickli, Olten, Switzerland
Description
bronze, cast in the lost wax casting process (“cire perdue”),
The crucifix was donated to French Missionaries of the Missionary Congregation of the Holy Spirit (“Spiritans”) by an African dignitary to decorate their church. From 1894 it was kept in the Abbey of Our Lady in Langonnet, which had been taken over by the Spiritans in 1858.
A typical Kongo crucifix, depicting a crucified Christ, two orants sitting above the crossbar, and a kneeling figure below, likely symbolizing the Virgin Mary.
Such crucifixes were originally venerated as religious icons (both in Catholic and Syncretic cults), though after the decline of the Christian faith they became emblems of rank used by Kongo chiefs and kings.
Comparing literature
Felix, Marc L. (ed.), Kongo Kingdom Art, China 2003, p. 205