Online catalogue for the 55th tribal art auction

471 Head fragment of a magical figure "nkisi"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Songe

wood, light, reddish brown patina, traces of encrusted paint in some areas, narrow, sloping shoulders, disc-shaped flattened on top, a columnar short neck supporting a concave face with symmetrical arranged and sharp cut facial features, hollowed face halves, enclosed by half-circular ears and a projecting beard, large almond-shaped eyes with metal tags as pupils, flanking a protruding nose with flattened bridge, a rectangular mouth below, a large rounded lump of fetish material on top of the head, metal tags on the forehead, paint rubbed off, the body underneath the upper arms and breast missing (insect caused damage), on metal base; a comparable object, with the utmost probability made by the same hand, was auctioned at Sotheby's London, lot 258, on December 11, 1978 (see Yale, GVR-Archives, Registration Nr. 0034360~01). Accordingly the present figure can be imagined as half figure with fabric loin cloth and a further opening for insertion of magical substances in the area of the abdomen. There were large-sized "nkisi" figures, belonging to a whole village community. They were created to promote fecundity and ferility or to insure tranquility in the village. Asides, there were the smaller "mankisi" (sing. - nkisi), which were kept in the house and should protect its inhabitants. They were often handed down from one generation to the next. These small "mankisi" were even taken along when people left their homes.The determinating factor in their assessment is not visual but is rather dependent on the magical ingredients "bishimba" concealed in the abdominal cavity, the top of the head or in a horn set into the cranium. These hidden animal, vegetal and some mineral substances acquire potency and interact with the spirit realm when assembled according to a prescribed formula by the "nganga". Symbolically they may be grouped in two categories: those that provide the agressive content capable of counteracting the source of malovelent action such as the claws of a leopard, the scales of a venomous snake or the feathers of a hawk. And those substances having the desired positive effect on the customer.

H: 22,5 cm
H: 8.9 inch

Provenance
Joseph Christiaens, Brussels, Belgium, coll. in situ, Kasongo (1974)
Private Collection, Belgium

GVR Archives Registration No.
0034360~01

Literature
Verswijver, Gustaaf/de Palmenaer , Els u. a. (Hg.), Afrikanische Kunst - Verborgene Schätze aus dem Museum Tervuren, Ausst.kat., München/London/New York 1998, p. 175
Mestach, Jean Willy, Songye Studien, Formen und Symbolik, Ein analytischer Essay, München 1985, p. 65
Neyt, Francois, Songye, La redoutable Statuaire Songye d'Afrique Centrale, Ausst.kat., Brüssel 2004, p. 228, ill. 194

Price: 28000 - 40000 €

472 Standing male magical figure "nkisi"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Songe

wood, reddish brown patina, with short legs rising from big, plane feet, supporting a slender trunk with square shoulders and free carved arms, both big and clumsy hands resting aside the bulging abdomen, a strong columnar neck carrying a flattened head with triangular facial plane, the eyes inset with brass tags, animal horn on top of the head, slightly dam., cracks, spread with mass (right lower arm, left foot), on block-like base; the magical figures ("mankisi"; sing. "nkisi") are not conceived as objects of display but as intimate devices used for protection, healing or therapy. The determinating factor in their assessment is not visual but is rather dependent on the magical ingredients (="bishimba") concealed in the abdominal cavity, the top of the head or in a horn set into the cranium. These hidden animal, vegetal and some mineral substances aquire potency and interact with the spirit realm when assembled according to a prescribed formula by the "nganga". External attachments on magical figures are intended to augment the visual impact of the "nkisi". Reptile skins used for belts seem to relate to the status of ministers. Metal strips are said to relate to lightning. Thus on the "nkisi" this facial sign seems to signal its dual capacity to counteract and redirect aggressive action against the evildoer.

H: 25 cm (ohne Horn)
H: 9.8 inch (ohne Horn)

Provenance
Coll. Robert and Angelique Noortman, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Sotheby's, Amsterdam, 18. December 2007, lot 364

Literature
Neyt, Francois, Songye, La redoutable Statuaire Songye d'Afrique Centrale, Ausst.kat., Brüssel 2004, ill. 100 f.

Price: 7000 - 14000 €

473 Anthropomorphical face mask "kifwebe"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Songe

light brown wood, red, white and black paint, of narrow form with extremely protruding facial features, a high forehead comb (masculine type) flanked by big pierced eyes, a protruding square mouth below, completely coated with fine grooves, accentuated by changing colours, slightly dam., minor missing parts at the rim, on base

H: 52 cm
H: 20.5 inch

Provenance
Joaquin Pecci, Brussels, Belgium

Literature
Hahner-Herzog, Iris, Das Zweite Gesicht, Afrikanische Masken aus der Sammlung Barbier-Mueller, Genf/München/New York 1997, ill. 88

Sold.

474 Mask "kifwebe"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Songe

wood, painted in red, black and white, of elongated narrow form, with extremely protruding eyes and mouth, crowned by a high crest merging into a triangular nose, covered with fine linear grooves, accentuated by red, white and black pigment which is rubbed into the deepenings, grass fibre beard, pierced around the rim, min. dam., slight signs of abrasion, fissures, small missing parts; representing the male "kifwebe" type "kilume". The "kifwebe" masks represent a spirit being and belong to an association which bears the same name "bwadi ka bifwebe". The mask is supplemented by a plaited costume and a long beard of raffia fiber. It used to appear at various ceremonies, with the function of a security force or for warding off enemies in cases of war.

H: 53 cm
H: 20.9 inch

Provenance
Pierre Dartevelle, Brussels, Belgium
Coll. Berndt Helleberg, Stockholm, Sweden

Literature
Hahner-Herzog, Iris, Das Zweite Gesicht, Afrikanische Masken aus der Sammlung Barbier-Mueller, Genf, München, New York 1997, ill. 88

Sold.

475 Small male magical figure

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Songe

wood, shiny reddish brown patina, rising from a circular base, short legs with big feet supporting a slender trunk with angular shoulders and angled arms, both hands resting on the abdomen, typical facial features with crescent mouth, bulging forehead and a hole on top of the head, min. dam., fissures, slight signs of abrasion; small magical figures are used by individuals and belong to private households.

H: 26 cm
H: 10.2 inch

Provenance
Old Collection, Belgium

Literature
Mestach, Jean Willy, Songye Studien, Formen und Symbolik, Ein analytischer Essay, München 1985, p. 112, fig. 27

Price: 1800 - 2700 €

476 Small power figure "nkisi"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Songe

wood, brown patina, carved on a square base, schematized in form, the tapering abdomen accentuated by clamp-like arranged arms and big hands resting aside the navel, the upper part of the body and the head stud with copper nails, slightly dam., minor missing parts, crack (left side of the head), some nails missing

H: 15 cm
H: 5.9 inch

Provenance
Gall. Bernard, Ramatuelle, France
Private Collection, Cologne, Germany

Literature
Alisa LaGamma, Art and Oracle, African Art and Rituals of Divination, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 2000, p. 67
Frank Herremann, To Cure and Protect: Sickness and Health in African Art, New York 1999, p. 55

Sold.

477 Standing male magical figure "nkisi"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Songe

wood, brown patina, encrusted in some areas, traces of libation, rising from short legs, supporting a bulky trunk with flat, square shoulders with both hands resting aside the bulging abdomen, round cavity for insertion of magical substance "bishimba", crowned by a big head with helmet-shaped coiffure and narrow face with a protruding flat beard, wooden stick on top of the head, dam., missing parts because of insect caused damage (above all base and leg zone), cracks, paint rubbed off, on blocklike base

H: 28 cm
H: 11 inch

Provenance
Philippe & Lisa Laeremans, Liège, Belgium

Literature
Mestach, Jean Willy, Songye Studien, Formen und Symbolik, Ein analytischer Essay, München 1985, p. 111 f.

Price: 2200 - 3300 €

478 Female figure

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Suku

wood, shiny brown patina, with big feet rising from short legs, supporting a voluminous upper part of the body with narrow shoulders, the arms worked close to the body, both hands resting on the chest, a strong neck supporting an oval head with flattened chin and expressive facial features, min. dam., slight signs of abrasion, on metal base

H: 33,5 cm
H: 13.2 inch

Provenance
Private Collection, Stuttgart, Germany

Literature
Bourgeois, Arthur P., Art of the Yaka and Suku, Paris 1984, p. 230, ill. 218

Price: 800 - 1200 €

479 Small figure

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Suku

wood, shiny brown patina, rising from short bulky legs, a pear-shaped protruding belly, slender shoulders merging into arms worked close to the body, the hands resting in front of the chest, crowned by an oval head with a slightly deepened facial plane, almond-shaped incised eyes are flanking a flat broad nose, an oval mouth underneath, min. dam., cracks, slight signs of abrasion, on metal plate

H: 22,5 cm
H: 8.9 inch

Literature
Bourgeois, Arthur P., Art of the Yaka and Suku, Paris 1984, p. 212

Price: 1600 - 2400 €

480 Standing female figure

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Tabwa

wood, dark brown patina with residues of black paint, necklace, with straight legs rising from a cuboid base, supporting a waisted trunk with square shoulders and free carved thin arms, crowned by a small head with fine grooved coiffure, skin scarification marks on face, belly and back, slightly dam., paint rubbed off in some areas, on blocklike base; accentuation of the female gender, broad pelvis and bulging abdomen imply the usage of the figure in context with fertility rites. The Tabwa are a small ethnical group, living in the southeast of Zaire, along the southwestern banks of Lake Tanganyika. Their style reflects their geographic location at the East african rift, showing influences of the Luba, the Fipa and the Nyamwezi.

H: 33,5 cm
H: 13.2 inch

Provenance
Coll. Ingo Evers, Bonn, Germany

Literature
Felix, Marc L., 100 Peoples of Zaire and their Sculpture, The Handbook, Brüssel 1987, p. 171, ill. 18

Sold.