Horn with mask
Life Story
Almost without exception African horns are side-blown: that is, blown from the side with the mouthpiece at the point where the tusk cavity ends. This horn has the mouthpiece on the concave curve of the tusk, which is standard for oliphants from the Congolese culture area. The mask at the tip has the Yombe mitre-like head-dress.
Margaret Carey, 1997
Entry taken from Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Collection, Vol. 2: Pacific, African and Native North American Art, edited by Steven Hooper (Yale University Press, 1997) p. 181.
Provenance
Purchased by the Sainsbury Centre, University of East Anglia on the advice of Robert Sainsbury in 1979 out of income from the Sainsbury Purchasing Fund.
Not on display
Title/Description: Horn with mask
Object Type: Musical instrument
Materials: Elephant ivory
Measurements: h. 510 x w. 50 x d. 125 mm
Accession Number: 743
Historic Period: 20th century
Production Place: Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Cultural Group: Yombe
Credit Line: Purchased with support from Robert and Lisa Sainsbury, 1979
