Haut-Uélé, 19th century or earlier 18th. Mbari shorelines area near Mbomou to Bangassou. Length : 172cm/weight +/-10 kilos. Provenance: Dr. Paul Briart Collection and heirs since 1893 to 2017. Exceptional olifant, Nzakara, Vidri, Azande or related peoples, probably before the Westerners influence in this area. These ivory olifant of very large size were part of the Royal objects preserved by the King himself or belonging to the most important member of the chieftaincy. Originally, these Royal olifant were extended by a conical dried skin pavilion of 70cm to 1 meter for emplifying the sound. They were mainly used for the call of war or / and major cultural gatherings. On the death of the King or clan Chief, these olifants recognizable by their exceptional size, were covered with palm oil and red ocher and transmitted with the "Royal treasure". Very few or no other example of the pre-colonisation era and of this size (172cm) are come down to us or known to date. Ex Collection of Dr. Paul Briart from 1893 to 1920, ex Victor Briart from 1920 to 1936, ex Lucienne Briart from 1936 to 2004, Mrs L. Briart's estate until 2017. #tribalart #artpremiers #arttribal #bruneaf #brafaartfair #brafa #tribalartlondon #tribalgallery #hautuele #congohistory #congordc #artafricain #museedetervueren #museedelafriquecentrale #museeduquaibranly #museedelhomme #zande #bangala #ituri #ubangi #oubangui #nzakara #ngbandi