Wood, Leather, Metal Studs, Sheet Copper, Fiber Strings

Harp

Mangbetu Harp

Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)
Mangbetu

Wood, Leather, Metal Studs, Sheet Copper, Fiber Strings
ca. Mid-20th century

Height: 37.4 inches
Chordophone - Harp - Plucked

Impressive African music harp depicted in anthropomorphic figure with 4 strings. Hand carved from wood, shod with sheet copper and studs with the resonating body covered with leather. The Mangbetu are famous mostly for their clay mugs and musical instruments, with statues and other objects being rare. Most of their figural art is distinctive for the elongated heads, which is probably an influence from the ancient Egyptians that filtered south into the Sudan thousands of years ago. Mangbetu art is a royal art, so most objects that exist are elegant, refined, and of great beauty.

Owner:
Catalog#: AF-CHHP-13-82