Online catalogue for the 65th tribal art auction

331 Pair of figures

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Rungu

wood, shiny brown patina, blackened in parts, coiffures and scarification marks on body and face accentuated by black paint, min. dam., on base

H: 23 cm resp. 23,5 cm
H: 9.1 inch resp. 9.3 inch

Provenance
Peter Loebarth, Hameln, Germany

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332 Small standing figure

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo

wood, brown patina, red pigment remains, a simplified, crude carved body of closed contours, dominated by a big head with c-shaped ears, min. dam., cracks, slight traces of abrasion, on base

H: 15,5 cm
H: 6.1 inch

Price: 650 - 1300 €

333 Figurally carved tusk

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Loango

ivory, black paint, figural decorated with scenes of eyeryday life, erotic motifs and animals, arranged in horizontal rows running all around, min. dam.; the spiral band acts as a ground line for the procession of figures seen in profile. This spiraling pattern has a long history in the Kongo region and could allude to the path that the people believe the dead follow from earth to the ancestral realm and back again to be reborn.

L: 73 cm
L: 28.7 inch

Provenance
Old Colonial Collection, Germany

Sold.

334 Sword

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Bakongo

handle with stylized ivory figure (head missing), hook-shaped projections on both sides, reminding of stylized human arms, the flat ivory blade strongly corroded, on metal base

L: 77 cm
L: 30.3 inch

Provenance
Johan Henau, Antwerp, Belgium

Literature
Rob L. Wannyn, L 'Art Anciendu Metal au Bas-Congo, 1961

Sold.

335 Colon figure: European

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Bakongo

ivory, carved with a suit, european facial features and coiffure, elaborate work, min. dam., missing parts (foot tips)

H: 10,5 cm
H: 4.1 inch

Literature
Felix, Marc L. (ed.), Kongo Kingdom Art, China 2003, p. 86, ill. 1,63

Sold.

336 Colon figure

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Bakongo

light brown wood, matt patina, black paint, eyes with white porcelain inlay, carrying an item on top of the head, min. dam., cracks, minor missing parts, slight traces of abrasion

H: 28 cm
H: 11 inch

Provenance
Private Collection, The Netherlands

Price: 1000 - 2000 €

337 Mask "kolyulyu"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Bembe II

wood, brown patina, painted in red and white, board-shaped flattened with large concave eye-sockets, projections above the forehead, flat incised geometrical scarifications, min. dam., minor missing parts backside on the rim (horn), metal base; this group, also called "Wabembe" or "Babembe" (with the same name as the one from the other side of the continent), lives along the northwestern part of Lake Tanganyika. Sieber/Rubin have pointed out that the figurative style of the Bembe is related to the Luba complex to the south west, while the masks draw their characteristic features from the equatorial rain forest. Various forms are used by the Bembe for their masks and dance crests. Present mask presumably represents the bird "kolyulyu", which was used at circumcision ceremonies.

H: 35 cm
H: 13.8 inch

Provenance
Peter Loebarth, Hameln, Germany
Private Collection, Munich, Germany

Literature
Schädler, Karl-Ferdinand, Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture, München 2009, p. 91 f.
Felix, Marc L., 100 Peoples of Zaire and their Sculpture, Brüssel 1987, p. 11

Sold.

338 Mask

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D. R. Congo, Mbo/Bira

wood, matt patina, black and red pigment remains, of oval form, overall paint with white dots, enclosed by a plant fibre cuff, an open teeth revealing mouth, completely pierced around the rim, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion

H: 25 cm
H: 9.8 inch

Provenance
Peter Loebarth, Hameln, Germany
Wolfgang Nerlich, Munich, Germany

Literature
Felix, Marc L., Ituri, München 1992, p. 239

Price: 1300 - 2500 €

339 Standing female figure

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Bwaka

wood, middle brown patina, simplified and crudely carved, the facial features indicated by notches, rep. (right shoulder), slightly dam., cracks, minor missing parts (tip of the right foot), on base; most of Bwaka sculpture are depictions of "seto" and "nabo", the earliest ancestor couple. They vary in size from personal charms to almost life-sized figures.They are placed on an altar each day and offerings are made to avoid misfortune.

H: 31,5 cm
H: 12.4 inch

Provenance
Joseph Christiaens, Brussels, Belgium

Price: 1200 - 2500 €

340 Face mask

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Bwaka

wood, entirely coated with red pigment, traces of kaolin, expressive form: large eyes in big holes, a broad mouth with pointed teeth, cap-like head gear, slightly dam., missing parts through insect caused damage (nose, forehead, right ear), cracks, on metal base; used during circumcision rites when the initiates returned to the village, these mask-type often appeared in pairs, male and female.

H: 35 cm
H: 13.8 inch

Provenance
Old Collection, Belgium

Literature
Felix, Marc L., 100 Peoples of Zaire and their Sculpture, Brüssel 1987, p. 120 f.
Cornet, Joseph, A survey of Zairan Art, The Bronson Collection, Raleigh 1978, p. 368

Price: 3500 - 6000 €