Container
Kongo
18th/19th century
Medium
Rattan, wood, and twine
Dimensions
34.9 × 55.9 × 26.7 cm (13 3/4 × 22 × 10 1/2 in.)
Classification
container
Department
Arts of Africa
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
180495
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Basketwork boxes decorated with interlocking geometric patterns were produced in the Congolese region and adjacent Angola well into the 20th century. Such containers were used for the storage of luxury wares including raffia textiles and ivory accessories. Some were exported to Europe as early as the mid-17th century and became part of the collections of royals and wealthy aristocrats.