Untitled

Sculpture

-

DePaul Art Museum

Name/Title

Untitled

Entry/Object ID

2001.125

Description

Weber #59

Artwork Details

Medium

Gorilla skull, rattan

Context

The Vili cultural group is a Bantu people in Africa indigenous to southwestern Gabon, Congo and parts of Angola. The art of Vili people has touched and inspired people around the world. It is even stated that Henri Matisse in 1906 bought a Vili figurine sculpture while in France and he and Pablo Picasso's work began to take inspiration from their anthropomorphic characteristics. This specific work is a monkey skull that is wrapped in vegetable fiber basketry. This piece was known to be used as a ritual tool to capture the spirit of wild animals.

Acquisition

Notes

Collection of DePaul University, gift of the May Weber Foundation

Made/Created

Artist

Unknown artist

Notes

Creation Date: no date

Ethnography

Notes

Kongo-Vili Congo, Africa Republic of Congo, Africa Africa Republic of Congo

Lexicon

Getty AAT

Concept

Vili, Kongo (culture or style), Central African (cultural or regional style), African (general, continental cultures), ritual objects, ceremonial objects, object genres (object classifications), skulls (helmet components), helmet components, armor components, costume components, components (objects parts), hand weaving, weaving, assembling (additive and joining process)

Hierarchy Name

Styles and Periods (hierarchy name), Object Genres (hierarchy name), Components (hierarchy name), Processes and Techniques (hierarchy name)

Facet

Styles and Periods Facet, Objects Facet, Activities Facet

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Whole

Width

20.32 cm

Depth

17.78 cm

Length

22.86 cm