Carved Tooth
Unknown Artist
late 1800s
Medium
Hippopotamus ivory and organic material
Dimensions
{"overall":{"height":0.33}}
Classification
Sculpture
Department
African Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Charles E. Roseman
Accession Number
1969.137
About this artwork
This is a fine example of art produced for sale to European visitors in the Lower Congo River area. A long history of cultural and artistic interactions between Africans and Europeans began in 1482, when the Portuguese first established diplomatic ties with the rulers of the Kongo kingdoms. Note the image of a foreign merchant pouring whiskey from a keg.