Kongo Bronze Crucifix Antique African Cross Congo

An Exquisite Early Kongo Bakongo Christ on the Cross
Antique African Crucifix - Tribal Sculpture Christian Religious Icon - DCR Congo Zaire

Collected from the: Kongo Bakongo peoples in the Atlantic Coast region of Zaire, Central Africa
Material: Bronze, old lost wax casting of copper/tin alloy
Period: 17th century, conservatively
Dimensions: 8.5" height, 4" width, 5/8" depth; weight is 10.8 ounces
Condition: Pristine - NO damage or repair; iconography, casting method and quality, surface condition, tool signatures, and refined metal content declare this crucifix the work of an early master caster, clearly intended for ritual tribal use - splendid symmetry and form !

From a private Parisian collection, this early, exquisitely cast Christian relic exhibits the iconography, casting quality, tool signatures, minute surface imperfections (known as 'blow holes', created from bubbles in the molten metal during the casting process), refined metal content and distinct lack of 'pot metal' alloys that testify to an early period of creation. The ritual oiling of respectful care resulted in a glorious, deep patina, liberal brassy highlights, exposed through frequent handling, greatly enhance the personality of this magnificent work; verdigris at the very end may suggest that this cross was 'planted' upright in the earth for use and/or display. This important, much used, museum quality piece is an exceptionally rare find ! Based on European prototypes, early Kongo renditions of this subject depict Christ with naturalistically modeled arms, legs, and torso that emphasize musculature w as later examples of this style suggest a more profound assimilation of the cross with local idioms. In this work, Christ's facial features and hair are that of a Kongolese subject. His hands and feet are flattened and the feet are joined into a single five-toed limb, which, according to interpretations of Kongo gestures, affords heightened spiritual power. The large protruding oval eyes, a common motif in Kongo art, represent the supernatural vision of a human who is possessed by an ancestor or deity. Below Christ and above his shoulders are four small, highly stylized orant (praying figures) whose role and identities are thought to be mourners, ancestors, angels, saints or even apostles. Considered an emblem of spiritual authority and power, the Christian cross was integrated into Kongo ancestral cults and burial rituals, and was believed to contain magical protective properties that could intervene in matters ranging from illness and fertility to rainfall.

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