Loango, located in the Republic of Congo, is a kingdom along the west coast of central Africa, just north of Point Noire in Congo Brazzaville. Loango became the capital of the Kongo region after Mbanza Kongo was ruined in 1665 in the Battle of Ambouilla. The Loango Coast lies within Gabon, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the heart of Loango lies within the Republic of Congo. It is one of nine provinces belonging to the Kongo Kingdom.
During the 15th century after the Portuguese reached Kongo, they were soon followed by other European powers. Trade emerged and transformed the societies within Kongo. Loango became a key location for the Atlantic Trade with the Europeans who brought manufactured goods, cloth, liquor, guns, and whatever else they thought they could get a fair trade for. With such things, they purchased slaves, metals, and raw materials, including ivory. Trade altered the Loango society, and by the 19th century trade was the dominating way of life in much of the region. Slave trade had become a huge industry amongst the Loango Coast, as the number of slaves exported rose above 10,000 a year.
During this time was when the carved ivory tusk was purchased by Wilhelm Hamburger. He bought the tusk in the early 20th century in India. Germany was at the height of its colonial empire and the trend was to have collections of artifacts from expeditions. After being passed down through three generations of the Hamburger family, the tusk eventually arrived in the United States.