File:The American Museum journal (c1900-(1918)) (18135424016).jpg

Title: The American Museum journal
Identifier: americanmuseumjo18amer (find matches)
Year: c1900-(1918) (c190s)
Authors: American Museum of Natural History
Subjects: Natural history
Publisher: New York : American Museum of Natural History
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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FORKS AND SPOONS OF NATIVE DESIGN The natives' instinctive desire for artistic expression is evident not only in tlieir houses, which are deco- rated with various geometric de- signs carried out in three colors, depicting scenes from native life, but also in the humblest objects; oven knives and other articles bought from traders are afterward beautifully ornamented. These carved ivory spoons and forks were presented to us by a Congo artist as more suitable than our simple camp implements. In his enthusiasm he remarked that even tliese elaborate models would be far too simple and small for the king should he eat in the presence of the ordinary natives as most Europeans do. Okondo's food, like that of any liigh chief, was served in a hut to which no one had access while he ate, although on rare occasions his councilors or relatives were invited, when they, like all other natives, used their fingers. Oil or peppery sauce was much relished and was dipped up in a piece of mush in which the thumb had pressed a hol- low. This took the place of a spoon
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Saza, a particularly skillful ivory carver, enjoys an easy chair introduced into the Congo by white men and widely imitated by the natives. A wife and a helper are of great assistance in his work. On the ground lie the numerous ivory chips cut with his adz. He was particularly fond of engraving sketches of scenes from native life. He also eagerly copied in outline pictures from European maga- zines of which he had a great store 537

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