Collection record · Objects & craft
Oliphant (Side-Blown Trumpet)
The collection record classifies this work as musical instrument. It is dated late 1800s–early 1900s. Recorded culture or place: Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo (most likely), Cabinda, or Republic of the Congo, probably Yombe-style maker.
Explore the object recordOBJECT RECORD
A closer look at the details.
- Museum title
- Oliphant (Side-Blown Trumpet)
- Date
- late 1800s–early 1900s
- Culture / origin
- Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo (most likely), Cabinda, or Republic of the Congo, probably Yombe-style maker
- Materials and technique
- Ivory
- Dimensions
- Overall: 32 x 4 x 6 cm (12 5/8 x 1 9/16 x 2 3/8 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Not specified by the museum
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 2010.448
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
Side-blown trumpets were used on various occasions, and ivory examples seem to have been reserved for more solemn circumstances, such as funerals. As the mouthpiece is located on the inner curve, the person who played this instrument held it horizontally. A seated male Yombe ruler wearing a shell necklace and a European-style cloak and hat is carved on top. His blended dress shows how Yombe people (a Kongo sub-group) selectively adopted elements of foreign dress to wear with their own fashions.
FOLLOW THE SOURCE
Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · René and Odette Delenne Collection, Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund · CC0
The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.
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