Ivory tooth

Museum number: UEM22753 

Material: Ivory 

Region and culture: Haut-Uele, Mangbetu-people   

Description: Belongs to the Mangbetu-people from Haut-Uele. The edge of the tooth is in the shape of a carved female figure. The remaining part of the ivory tooth displays different incised scenes that illustrates palm trees, male and female figures. One of the men is climbing a palm tree with the help of a rope. Some of the women are chopping down a palm tree using axes. This ivory tooth shows signs of both a strong Congolese artistic tradition and aesthetic adjustments to possible foreign buyers. Length 59 cm.  

Lawyer Jacob Vogt delivered the object to the museum. Unknown date.