Loango ivories were made in the Congo-region as souvenirs for Europeans. The scenes carved in the ivory depict the economic relationship between Africans and Europeans. One scene shows hunting elephants for ivory. Another shows four enslaved people chained together. And another shows the transport of goods such as Dutch gin. The unknown artist who carved this tusk may have created these scenes as a satirical or critical comment on the behaviour of European traders.
Vili, Loango; 1830-1870; ivory; Collection Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen, donated by Natura Artis Magistra, 1921; TM-A-11083
