Download our app and ask your own questions during your visit. Here are some that others have asked.

What's going on here?

That sculpture is "The Old Man of Mikeno" by Carl E. Akeley. It dates to 1923 and depicts a pretty realistic gorilla (to my eye, at least).

In 1921, Akeley went on an expedition to Africa affiliated with the American Museum of Natural History that focused on gorillas. The title refers to Mt. Mikeno, part of the Virunga Mountains in East Africa.

Where did this come from? My 7-year old wants to know.

This work was sculpted by an artist named Carl E. Akeley and cast at the Kunst Foundry in New York. It's titled "The Old Man of Mikeno."

"Mikeno" refers to Mt. Mikeno in the Congo region of Africa. Akeley traveled to Africa so that he could make images of African animals, like the gorilla, for institutions in the United States. In fact, the Akeley Hall of African Mammals at the American Museum of Natural History is named after him!

Very cool!

The Old Man of Mikeno

American Art

On View: Luce Visible Storage and Study Center, 5th Floor

ARTIST Carl E. Akeley, American, 1864-1926

CAST BY Kunst Foundry, NY

MEDIUM Bronze

DATES 1923

DIMENSIONS 24 3/4 x 29 1/2 x 20 in. (62.9 x 74.9 x 50.8 cm)

MARKINGS Foundry mark inscribed on top of proper right side of base: "KUNST Foundry N.Y"

INSCRIPTIONS Inscribed on front edge of base at center: "The Old Man of Mikeno"

COLLECTIONS American Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 24.552

CREDIT LINE Gift of George D. Pratt

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Chest-length bust of a male gorilla facing frontally on a rectangular base; roughly textured surface; realistic representation. Condition: Good.

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Luce Visible Storage and Study Center, 5th Floor

RECORD COMPLETENESS

Not every record you will find here is complete. More information is available for some works than for others, and some entries have been updated more recently. Records are frequently reviewed and revised, and we welcome any additional information you might have.

Download our app and ask your own questions during your visit. Here are some that others have asked.

What's going on here?

That sculpture is "The Old Man of Mikeno" by Carl E. Akeley. It dates to 1923 and depicts a pretty realistic gorilla (to my eye, at least).

Where did this come from? My 7-year old wants to know.

This work was sculpted by an artist named Carl E. Akeley and cast at the Kunst Foundry in New York. It's titled "The Old Man of Mikeno."

Very cool!

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The Old Man of Mikeno

American Art

On View: Luce Visible Storage and Study Center, 5th Floor

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The Old Man of Mikeno

American Art

On View: Luce Visible Storage and Study Center, 5th Floor

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