A kisanji

A kisanji
wood and iron lamellophone
carved decoration "Geometric motifs" and "Capuita Symbol"
Angolan - Tshokwe
20th C. (1st quarter)
major fault on the lower edge of the platform, other minor faults and defects
purchased in a village north of Munhango (about 20 km) in 1965
Dimensões (altura x comprimento x largura) - 24,4 x 13,7 x 1,8 cm
Notes: Provenance: Collection of Engineer Elísio Romariz dos Santos Silva

Fig. 2 in the notes printed "A Escultura Tribal dos Povos Banto" updated version, from 1995, of the work with the title "A Escultura Negro-Africana Vista à Luz da Filosofia Banta", which the author presented in 1971, for the XXII Floral Games of Huambo Town Hall (former Nova Lisboa) - Angola, p. 11. Original work available at http://memoriaafrica.ua.pt/Library/ShowImage.aspx?q=/bchuambo/bchuambo-026&p=10, consulted on March 16, 2023 at 11:16.
Item number 144, mentioned in the notebook of the collector «Angola - Arte Negra, Relação e descrição das peças», identified as «Quissanje Txa-Nbunda»: "The quissanje platform has the edges turned upside down and is used by the bundas. However, given the place where it was purchased, I am not sure that this piece is of bunda origin. Decorated with incisions forming 4 juxtaposed rectangles all decorated with the "Capuita" motif ( see no. 5). In the verticals of the total rectangle and in the intersection of the median circular decorations. The upper part, above the keys, is decorated with a frieze with 3 lozenges [...] Purchased in Munhango, in a village located 20 km to the north, in 1965 [...]. Other kisanjis are represented in DIAS, Jorge (direc.) - "Escultura Africana no Museu de Etnologia do Ultramar". Lisboa: Junta de Investigações do Ultramar, 1968, s/p, nº 158; em SANTOS, Soraia Ferreira (coord.) - "A Herança dos Povos do Sul de Angola". Lubango: Museu Regional da Huíla, 2018, p. 57, nºs inv. 2003.R.247 and 2002.R.252; in FELIX, Marc Leo. - "100 Peoples of Zaire and Their Sculpture: The Handbook”. Brussels: Zaire Basin Art History Research Foundation, 1987, p. 97, nº 15; and in BASTIN, Marie-Louise. "La sculpture Tshokwe”. Arcueil: Alain et Françoise Chaffin, 1982, p. 244, nº 167.