Ritual object

Hendrik Elias, Ghent, Belgium

Elias was one of the first students to study African art and culture at Ghent University, where he earned a master’s degree in 1948 with a thesis on Songe sculpture titled “De Plastiek in Basonge-stijl”. Elias’ primary professor was Frans Olbrechts, who was also the director of the Musée Royal de l’Afrique Centrale in Tervuren. This gave him an entree into the world of the museum and its early directors, Olbrechts and Albert Maesen. Later he became a dealer in African art, his career lasted for more than thirty years. He was well known to specialists in African art and was a valuable source of important objects.