Kongo: Power and Majesty Hardcover – September 29, 2015

Very addition to my already extensive collection of books 📚 on Congo and African Artifacts excellent condition very well bounded a lot of great photographs. I have to find space for it for now looks like the table

Liked essays. Was a gift; now I need a second copy to keep.

Beautiful book for the price.

Looking at the catalogue, it seems one of the best exhibition on African Art. A good synthesis of every preziosi research.

gorgeous book

"Kongo: Power and Majesty," a beautiful catalogue published to accompany an exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, presents artifacts of the former Kingdom of Kongo which stretched over a large chunk of equatorial west Africa. Although the kingdom was not coterminous with the two countries we now call Congo, it did cover much of the territory of the French Congo (capital: Brazzaville), Belgian Congo (capital: Kinshasa), and Angola.Many collectors and aficionados of African "art"--or more precisely put "artifacts"-- have favorite styles associated with a particular region or ethnic group, and it would be folly to cite one as superior to others. Still, it is safe to say that Kongo art is among the most stunning and distinctive ever created on the continent. The show at the Met includes 134 works, created in wood, ivory, and textiles and drawn from numerous museum collections in both Europe and the United States. Luxury goods, often sent to Europe as gifts or used locally as prestige regalia, are prominent in the show. Also well represented and even more dramatic in size and complexity are wooden carvings that specialists employed to control the spirit world for the benefit of local populations. These artifacts in particular demonstrate how accretions such as iron nails, fabrics, and organic materials empowered such ritual objects, harnessing the energy thought to be ubiquitous in the environment.Given its location on the west coast of Africa and its early and long-term interaction with Europe, the Kingdom of Kongo lost roughly one-third of its population to the slave trade by the mid-19th century. A large percentage of those slaves were settled in the southeast coastal region of this country. Readers interested in learning more about the influence of Kongo culture in the United States may wish to pick up "Kongo Across the Waters," a highly-rated exhibition catalogue published by the University of Florida in December 2013.

This is a catalog from the museum exhibit in 2015. The photography and the objects are extraordinary.The objects selected date back only as far as European contact (around 1500) and the text of the book limits itself to this historical time period. Due to the nature of trade with the Europeans, and European Renaissance collecting habits, the provenance of many of these items has been lost.The Kongolese pieces consist of sculpture in metal, wood, and ivory and some (few) textiles. The book is rounded out with Spanish and Portuguese maps and drawings, plus photographs from the 19th and 20th centuries.Simply stunning artistry in these pieces.The book offers a good map, a timeline of kingdoms dating back to the beginning of European contact, and an excellent notes section. 180 objects, most photographed from multiple perspectives. Excellent book.

Ok

Excellent, generously informed presentation of an aspect of African cultural and political history, bypassing dated colonial and postcolonial attitudes.Beautifully illistrated, with lots of interesting texts which give us Westerners a thoughtfull, "deep" glimpse into the lives and beliefs of the congolese "others", during the long period that covers the time-span from precolonial times to early 20th century. To be red and enjoyed! Those who treasured the catalogue of the Benin Exhibition some years ago, must add this one to their collection.

As a fan of Congolese art I can easily recommend this beautiful book. Stunningly photographed and good information

A GOOD READ .. Nice item, great design HAPPY

Thanks

avevo visto una mostra sul congo a parigi al quai branly. questa, vista solo sul catalogo, mi sembra migliore. diciamo più "professionale"