Crucifix

Kongo artist · Late 17th-early 18th century

The Portuguese arrived along the coast of the Kongo Kingdom in 1483. The missionaries who accompanied these early navigators established a Christian presence that existed until the mid-18th century. Kongo people absorbed some Christian rites and materials into their own practices. Crucifixes made by local casters were derived from early Portuguese prototypes, but Kongo chiefs used them as power tokens without a Christian interpretation.