post 1: The Kongo Cross is an excellent example of crossed-cultures. It is a visual representation of Kongo religion meshed with Christian images. The crossed lines of the cosmo gram refer to the path of life, which is similar to the cross displayed by Jesuit missionaries. The crucifix became a symbol of political as well as religious authority. It was an ideal emblem for Kings who desire blessings for their people. It is a superstitious thing that they use to protect their peace. I see it as how a Christian may wear a cross or a catholic may wear a rosary. They wear them to feel faith with them at all times, or to feel peace as they pray outside of a church.
post 2: Salt cellar, Sapi-Portuguese, Sierra Leone is one of the examples of cross-cultural exchanges that I find most interesting. What really caught my attention with this piece was the level of detail, like the crocodiles across the top, the figures, and the design in general. This sculpture was used to store salt and it was pretty large, over 1 foot tall. Since salt was a luxury item in that time period, people would use salt cellars like this one to display the salt in the dining room. This is very similar to the way we store salt today. Although we don’t use big salt cellars, most homes display their salt in a smaller decorative salt shaker.
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