Online catalogue for the 55th tribal art auction

481 Standing power figure

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Tabwa

dark wood, spotty patina, remains of fur, animal skin, without feet rising from an oval base, free carved arms resting on the hips, a band of fur around the waist, a head with cavitiy for insertion of magical mass on top, slightly dam., minor missing part (base)

H: 20 cm
H: 7.9 inch

Provenance
Private Collection, Rhineland, Germany

Sold.

482 Standing magical figure "nkisi"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Teke

wood, fabric, wire, clay-like mass, armless body with a bowl-shaped trunk, filled with magical ingredients and spread with clay-like mass, crowned by a cylindrical head, the facial plane coated with vertical striations, the crested coiffure showing oval ornaments on both sides, slightly dam., clay-like mass missing in some areas, on base; for a figure of comparable type with the same coiffure detail, see R. Lehuard, Les Arts Bateke (1996), p. 296 f..

H: 26 cm
H: 10.2 inch

Provenance
Private Collection, France

Literature
Lehuard, Raoul, Les arts Bateke, Arnouville 1996

Price: 1000 - 1500 €

483 Power half figure

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Tetela

wood, dull dark brown patina, remains of pigments, a waisted trunk rising from a cylindrical base, flanked by free carved arms, with both hands resting aside the protruding navel, a strong neck supporting an oval head, showing a triangular face, hole on top of the head, dam., insect caused damage (base, back)

H: 37 cm
H: 14.6 inch

Provenance
Coll. Dr. Ernst Sperling, Munich, Germany

Sold.

484 Slit drum

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Yaka

wood, reddish brown patina, elongated, cylindrical corpus, hollowed, slit-like opening, carved with a handle in the shape of a human head, of narrow form with accentuated cut facial features, projecting ears and knob-like coiffure, drumstick fixed by bands of fabric, slightly dam.; used at divination ceremonies, used to accompany songs introducing the oracle.

H: 38 cm
H: 15 inch

Price: 500 - 750 €

485 Ritual knife

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Yaka

wood, dark brown patina, metal sheet, lancet-shaped blade with punched middle ridge and hook-shaped projections at the base, handle in the shape of a standing male figure with block-like contours

L: 27,5 cm
L: 10.8 inch

Provenance
Julien A. Quackelbeen, Ghent, Belgium

Sold.

486 Initiation mask "ndeemba"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Yaka

wood, fabric, polychrome painted, plug-shaped wooden handle, carved with a small, narrow mask face with protruding facial features, framed by a roof-like coiffure and halfcircular ear flaps, a bonnet with rattan body, coated with plant fibre and fabric, forming a phantastic pagoda-like superstrucure with antenna-like projections, entirely framed by abundant grass fibre bundles, slightly dam. (one antenna-like projection broken), minor missing parts (ear flap, projections); used at circumcision rites for young boys, symbolizing fertility and virility.

H: 70 cm
H: 27.6 inch

Provenance
Seve Axell, Stockholm, Sweden

Literature
Bourgeois, Arthur P., Art of the Yaka and Suku, Paris 1984, p. 173 f.

Price: 2000 - 3000 €

487 Janus figure "khosi"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Yaka

wood, shiny dark brown patina, both sides worked out, a male and a female figure "sharing" one body, short legs supporting an elongated torso with slender shoulders, both pairs of arms worked close to the body, a strong neck supporting a head with tribe-typical facial features and drilled pupils, crowned by a flat hat-like headgear, min. dam., on wooden base; those figures appear in different versions: freestanding pairs, joined back to back or single statuettes with janus face. The magical mass is either sealed in the stomach portion or hang in pouches or antelope horn containers on the neck or the waist. These figures are kept within a special cabin in the compound of a headman or chief.

H: 31,5 cm
H: 12.4 inch

Provenance
Coll. Ralf Siegemund, Berlin, Germany

Literature
Bourgeois, Arthur P., Art of the Yaka and Suku, Paris 1984, p. 108, ill. 97

Price: 1400 - 2100 €

488 Magical figure "phuungu"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Yaka

wood, brown patina, magical mass, feathers, rising from strong, slightly bent legs, large parts of the torso wrapped in a package drenched with magical mass, to the left and to the right a wooden pipe filled with feathers, crowned by an oval head with tribe-typical facial features and headgear, min. dam., cracks, slight signs of abrasion, on base; these figures served as containers of protective magical power exercised by the experts against illness, to avenge sorcery and for supernatural assistance in hunting.

H: 25 cm
H: 9.8 inch

Provenance
Private Collection, USA

Literature
Bourgeois, Arthur P., Art of the Yaka and Suku, Paris 1984, p. 18
Bourgeois, Arthur P., The Yaka and Suku, Leiden 1985, pl. XXI

Price: 800 - 1200 €

489 Small female figure "okifa"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Yela

wood, blackish brown slightly encrusted patina, kaolin, rising from bent legs, supporting a slender trunk with round shoulders and free worked arms, both hands resting on the hips, a short neck carrying an oval head with heart-shaped facial plane and high headgear, min. dam., slight signs of abrasion, on base; belonging to the "lilwa" secret society. The posture of the body could be a hint, that a hanged person is depicted. In contrast to the neighbouring Mbole the Yela also have female "okifa" figures.

H: 26 cm
H: 10.2 inch

Provenance
Private Collection, New York, USA

Literature
Felix, Marc L., 100 Peoples of Zaire and their Sculpture, The Handbook, Brüssel 1987, p. 199, ill. 9

Price: 1500 - 2500 €

490 Mask

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Zombo

wood, kaolin, black paint, of oval form, a bulging forehead with eyebrows accentuated by black paint, narrow slit eyes are flanking a straight nose, a slightly protruding "smiling" mouth underneath, crowned by a helmet-like coiffure with sideburns, pierced around the rim, min. dam., slight signs of abrasion, small missing parts, on base; showing very european facial features, presumably a colon mask from the 30s. The Zombo are a small ethnical group living along the Inkisi river banks in the borderland between Zaire and Angola.

H: 30 cm
H: 11.8 inch

Provenance
Private Collection, The Netherlands

Price: 1500 - 2500 €