Pipe with Human Head, Boka

CultureNgbaka peoples
Titles
  • Pipe with Human Head, Boka
  • Pipe (boka) with Human Head
Date1900–1940
PlaceDemocratic Republic of the Congo
MediumWood, silver, copper, iron, cotton cloth, glass beads, and paint
DimensionsOverall: 17 × 1 1/2 × 4 3/4 in. (43.2 × 3.8 × 12.1 cm)
Credit LineThe Dr. Gus K. Nicholson Collection
Object number91.1452
Not on view

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Department
African Art
ProvenanceDr. Gus K. Nicholson (1942–1989), Houston, by 1989; by inheritance to his heirs, 1989–1991; given to MFAH, 1991.
Exhibition History"Sculpture of Black Africa: The Gus Nicholson Collection," Rice Museum, Rice University, Houston, December 12, 1980 - February 22, 1981 [1].
[1] Exhibition check list, no. 98 (on file).

“The Private Eye: Selected Works from Collections of Friends of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston” The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, June 11, 1989-August 13, 1989.

EXHIBITED at MFAH, Sterling Gallery, November 4, 1998-present PERMANENT COLLECTION INSTALLATION

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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Udamalore (Ceremonial Knife with Sheath)
1875–1925
Ivory, iron, glass beads, brass bells, cotton cloth, wood, and cane
91.1551
Ceremonial Axe with Human Head
1840–1899
Wood, iron, and brass tacks
91.1451
Elephant Mask
1900–1950
Raffia cloth, indigo dye, glass beads, and cotton cloth
90.557
1900–1950
Raffia cloth, glass beads, cowry shells, raffia, wood, and paint
73.89
Elephant Mask
1900–1950
Cotton cloth, flannel, glass beads, raffia cloth, indigo dye, and cane (?)
97.341
Headdress or Lid
1868–1933
Wood, glass beads, tin, string, and traces of paint
75.353
Pangolin Headdress
1925–1950
Wood, paint, metal, cloth, rope, and nail
90.499
Eagle Dancer
1900–1945
Painted wood, leather, cloth, feathers, evergreen twigs, beads, string
44.415
Agbogho Mmwo (Maiden Spirit Helmet Mask)
1865–1935
Wood, kaolin, paint, wire, cotton string, and trade cloth
90.401
Crown, Ade
1900–1940
Glass and jasper beads, cotton cloth, raffia cloth, cane, and iron
98.240
Helmet Mask (tatanua)
Unknown Indigenous Pacific Islands or First Nations Australian artist
1884–1895
Wood, paint, opercula shells, lime plaster, plant fiber, bark, bark cloth, rattan, and cord
90.256
Female Twin Figure, Ere Ibeji, with Garment
1900–1930
Wood, glass beads, cotton cloth, nails, coconut shell beads, and traces of indigo and tukula
91.1448.A,.B