Crucifix "nkangi kiditu", 19e siècle · R. D. 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.
L’objet Crucifix “nkangi kiditu”, 19e siècle avec l’ID d’objet 3045627 a fait partie de la vente aux enchères 92e vente aux enchères Tribal Art dans 29 juin 2019. L’objet portant le numéro de lot 101 a atteint un prix de vente de 6 000 € pour un prix d’adjudication de 1 000 €.
Vous trouverez ici d’autres objets et des informations utiles sur le thème Art africain.
Littérature comparée
Felix, Marc L. (ed.), Kongo Kingdom Art, China 2003, p. 205
Publications
Schädler, Karl-Ferdinand, Afrika, Maske und Skulptur, Olten 1989, ill. 107