Whistle (nsiba) with Figural Finial
- Culture
- Kongo artist
- Date
- late 19th–early 20th century
- associated with
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa
- Classification
- Sculpture, wood
- Collection
- Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
- Current Location
- On View, Gallery 117
- Dimensions
- 7 3/4 x 1 3/8 x 1 1/2 in. (19.7 x 3.5 x 3.8 cm)
- Credit Line
- Museum Shop Fund and funds given by the Honorable and Mrs. Charles A. Shaw
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Object Number
- 155:2003a,b
NOTES
Antelope-horn whistles such as this, with finely executed miniature sculptures, belonged solely to banganga, or ritual specialists, and certain chiefs. The whistles were important components of minkisi, or medicines, among an nganga’s ensemble of implements, and often were attached to larger bundled and figural minkisi as well. Minkisi and banganga may be metaphorically related to the hunt, in terms of their power to assist in vanquishing wrongdoing.
Kongo game hunters and ritual practitioners alike use horns of the duiker antelope (Sylvicapra grimmia) as whistles for their respective pursuits. Music is integral to ritual proceedings. Multi-layered sounds and rhythms emanating from such instruments as drums, gongs, bells, and the human voice, as well as whistles, are critical to invoking the presence of spirits.
Kongo game hunters and ritual practitioners alike use horns of the duiker antelope (Sylvicapra grimmia) as whistles for their respective pursuits. Music is integral to ritual proceedings. Multi-layered sounds and rhythms emanating from such instruments as drums, gongs, bells, and the human voice, as well as whistles, are critical to invoking the presence of spirits.
Provenance
1880s -
Collected by William Henry Carter, Democratic Republic of Congo and New Zealand [1]
- 2001
Taylor Dale [Taylor A. Dale Fine Tribal Art], Santa Fe, NM, USA purchased at New Zealand auction [2]
Toby Herbst [Toby Herbst Antiques], Santa Fe, NM, purchased from Taylor Dale [3]
- 2003
Alexander Gallery, Inc. [Thomas Alexander], St. Louis, MO
2003 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from Alexander Gallery, Inc. [4]
Notes:
[1] An invoice dated July 3, 2003 from Alexander Gallery, Inc. to the Saint Louis Art Museum documents this object was “Collected by William Henry Carter, an Englishman mining in the Congo in the 1880’s. Later emigrating to New Zealand…” [SLAM document files]. According to an email dated September 19, 2012 from Taylor Dale [Taylor A. Dale Fine Tribal Art] to Amy Clark of the Saint Louis Art Museum, Dale “William Henry Carter was an English miner who worked in the Congo in the 19th century, then emigrated to New Zealand” [copy of email in SLAM document files].
[2] In an email dated September 19, 2012 to Clark, Dale stated he “purchased this piece from an auction in New Zealand, then sold it to Toby Herbst, also of Santa Fe” [copy of email in SLAM document files].
[3] See Note [2].
[4] An invoice dated July 3, 2003 from Alexander Gallery, Inc. to the Saint Louis Art Museum documents the purchase of this object, listed as "8295 Yombe Charm with Male Seated Figure / Democratic Republic of Congo " [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Collections Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, December 2, 2003.
Collected by William Henry Carter, Democratic Republic of Congo and New Zealand [1]
- 2001
Taylor Dale [Taylor A. Dale Fine Tribal Art], Santa Fe, NM, USA purchased at New Zealand auction [2]
Toby Herbst [Toby Herbst Antiques], Santa Fe, NM, purchased from Taylor Dale [3]
- 2003
Alexander Gallery, Inc. [Thomas Alexander], St. Louis, MO
2003 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from Alexander Gallery, Inc. [4]
Notes:
[1] An invoice dated July 3, 2003 from Alexander Gallery, Inc. to the Saint Louis Art Museum documents this object was “Collected by William Henry Carter, an Englishman mining in the Congo in the 1880’s. Later emigrating to New Zealand…” [SLAM document files]. According to an email dated September 19, 2012 from Taylor Dale [Taylor A. Dale Fine Tribal Art] to Amy Clark of the Saint Louis Art Museum, Dale “William Henry Carter was an English miner who worked in the Congo in the 19th century, then emigrated to New Zealand” [copy of email in SLAM document files].
[2] In an email dated September 19, 2012 to Clark, Dale stated he “purchased this piece from an auction in New Zealand, then sold it to Toby Herbst, also of Santa Fe” [copy of email in SLAM document files].
[3] See Note [2].
[4] An invoice dated July 3, 2003 from Alexander Gallery, Inc. to the Saint Louis Art Museum documents the purchase of this object, listed as "8295 Yombe Charm with Male Seated Figure / Democratic Republic of Congo " [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Collections Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, December 2, 2003.
We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.