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John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, photography credit Joel Benjamin
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, photography credit Joel Benjamin
Ivory Sculpture
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, photography credit Joel Benjamin
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Ivory Sculpture

Artifact IDMO 63.478
Object Type Vase
Date before 1962
Date PresentedFebruary 5, 1962
Gifter
Place MadeDemocratic Republic of the Congo, Africa
Medium Ivory
DimensionsOverall H 16 in x W 4 in (40.6 cm x 10.2 cm )
Physical Descriptionsculpted from a hollow section of natural elephant tusk and mounted upright onto a custom-carved dark wood base.A continuous village scene is carved in high relief across three interconnected tiers. The iconography showcases stylized figures in active poses, a traditional central African thatched-roof hut, and native trees featuring dense, cross-hatched leaf canopies that seamlessly wrap around the tapering curvature of the tusk.
Historical NoteOn February 5, 1962, Congolese Prime Minister Cyrille Adoula presented this carved elephant tusk lamp to President John F. Kennedy during a critical White House visit aimed at stabilizing the war-torn Democratic Republic of the Congo. Sourced under the oversight of Finance Minister Emmanuel Bamba, the gift carries profound historical weight. In Central African tradition, elephant ivory symbolizes supreme presidential power, endurance, and deep diplomatic respect. However, the sculpture also serves as a haunting artifact of the Congo's turbulent post-colonial transition. Just four years after this White House exchange, Finance Minister Bamba was falsely accused of treason by dictator Mobutu Sese Seko and publicly executed in June 1966—highlighting the brutal political shifts that followed these early Cold War alliances.

Additional Details
Custodial History NoteItem was a gift from a foreign official to the President and First Lady received through the Executive office during the Kennedy Administration and transferred to the General Service Administration where it was held until donated to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum by the Estate of President John F. Kennedy in 1965.
Credit LineJohn F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA; Gift of the Estate of President John F. Kennedy
National Archives Catalog CollectionJohn F. Kennedy Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 1676934)
National Archives Catalog SeriesGifts from Heads of State (National Archives Identifier 1677008)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedUse Restriction NoteReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view
Related Links
"photographs of the luncheon for Cyrille Adoula, Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo"