Online catalogue for the 65th tribal art auction

431 Standing female figure

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Tumbwe

wood, reddish brown patina with traces of black paint, a strong body rising from massive feet, a large and heavy-weighted head, the facial features showing a calm and self-contained expression which is typical for ancestor figures, old collection number "Y2137" on the outside of the right foot, slightly dam., missing parts through insect caused damage (back of the head, feet), rep.(both foot tips), on plate; the Tumbwe live at the southwestern river banks of Lake Tanganyika. Few sculptures are known from this area and oral history says that some were made by Luba carvers at the request of the Tumbwe chief Lusinga. Present figure shows stylistic influence of the neighbouring Tabwa.

H: 56 cm
H: 22 inch

Provenance
Alain Guisson, Brussels, Belgium

GVR Archives Registration No.
0091250

Literature
Felix, Marc L., 100 Peoples of Zaire and their Sculpture, Brüssel 1987, p. 184, ill. 14

Price: 6000 - 12000 €

432 Magical object "bumba"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Vili

spherical, made of various layers of loose wickerwork, the top side closed by terracotta-like mass, revealing an animal skull (monkey) in the centre, min. dam., fissures, slight traces of abrasion

L: 24 cm
L: 9.4 inch

Sold.

433 Magical object "bumba"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Vili

half-spherical, made of various layers of loose wickerwork, tufts of plant fibres attached, the top side closed by a brown terracotta-like mass, framed by four rows of knotted grass strings, revealing a gorilla skull in the centre, min. dam., cracks, missing parts (teeth), slight traces of abrasion; probably used in procedures of the "ngi" society linked with power and justice.

D: 31, 5 cm
D: 31, 2 inch

Provenance
Willy Sand, Brussels, Belgium
Coll. Werner Fischer, Gelsenkirchen, Germany

Exposed in
Kunst und Kultur ferner Völker, Eine Ausstellung der Sparkasse Moers, Moers 1984

Published in
Kunst und Kultur ferner Völker, Eine Ausstellung der Sparkasse Moers, Moers 1984, p. 39, ill. 41

Literature
Felix, Marc L. (ed.), Kongo Kingdom Art, China 2003, p. 219, ill. 6.4
Schädler, Karl-Ferdinand, Afrikanische Kunst in Deutschen Privatsammlungen, München 1973, p. 336

Price: 3000 - 6000 €

434 Power figure "phuunu"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Yaka

wood, reddish brown patina, the body entirely coated with a package of magical mass, wearing a star-shaped headgear with a further package, min. dam., fissures, slight traces 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, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Literature
Bourgeois, Arthur P., Art of the Yaka and Suku, Paris 1984, p. 246, ill. 228

Price: 1000 - 2000 €

435 Power figure "phuungu"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Yaka

wood, partly encrusted brown patina, kaolin, cylindrical torso with the arms carved in flat relief, star-shaped headgear, min. dam., fissures, slight traces of abrasion

H: 22 cm
H: 8.7 inch

Price: 350 - 650 €

436 Slit drum

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Yaka

wood, brown patina, kaolin, plant fibre, elongated cylindrical corpus with slit-like opening, carved with a handle in the shape of a human head, drumstick missing, min. dam., traces of insect caused damage; used at divination ceremonies to accompany songs introducing the oracle. The rectangular opening was not just a resonator, it could contain magical mass as well.

H: 37 cm
H: 14.6 inch

Literature
Bourgeois, Arthur P., Art of the Yaka and Suku, Paris 1984, p. 103

Price: 800 - 1500 €

437 Neckrest "musaw"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Yaka

wood, shiny, middle brown patina, squatting anthropomorphic figure with stylized, extremely elongated arms, min. dam., cracks, slight traces of abrasion; elaborate coiffures necessitate an object of traditional furniture as a headrest. When lying on one's side, this small object supports the head just below the ear at the junction of neck and head. It is probable that most Yaka headrests had a charm packet inserted into a prepared cavity, or charms where otherwise attached. This served to protect the owner from malevolent influences while sleeping.

H: 14 cm; L: 14 cm
H: 5.5 inch; L: 5.5 inch

Provenance
Patric Claes, Brussels, Belgium

Price: 2500 - 5000 €

438 Standing female figure

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Yanzi

wood, reddish brown patina, black paint, fine scarification marks on the face, further tattoos in the area of the lower back, min. dam., cracks, on base; Yanzi art is concentrated on figures, masks are unknown. It is difficult to define a consistent style, because a lot of objects were bought from surrounding ethnies or pervading traders. Here we see a striking similarity to the facial design of the Teke. Probably this is a figure called "mbem". These figures fulfill specific duties: protecting against illness, assuring fertility, searching for thieves etc. Most Yanzi objects are multivalent and are sometimes used for totally opposing purposes.

H: 53 cm
H: 20.9 inch

Provenance
Jan Lundberg, Malmö, Sweden

Literature
Felix, Marc L., 100 Peoples of Zaire and their Sculpture, Brüssel 1987, p. 197, ill. 6

Sold.

439 Small standing male figure

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Zombo

wood, matt patina, armless torso with rectangular cavity for the insertion of magical mass, remains of mass at the back, min. dam., missing parts (foot tips), on wooden base

H: 21 cm
H: 8.3 inch

Price: 200 - 400 €

440 Mask "mwana phwevo"

This object is not available any more.

Angola, Luena

wood, red and black paint, tribe-typical facial features and scarification marks, crowned by an elaborate carved coiffure, pierced around the rim, min. dam., traces of insect caused damage, on base; the Luena are an ethnic group in the border territory between Angola, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In Angola, they are named after the river of the same name, and in the north-west of Zambia, they are known as Lovale. This mask is representing an early deceased mythical woman. The well-balanced facial features and scarification marks correspond with the dominating ideal of female beauty. The narrow slit eyes should point out that a deceased person itsdepicted.

H: 25 cm, coll. in 1970
H: 9.8 inch, coll. in 1970

Literature
Escultura Angolana, Lissabon 1994, p. 143

Price: 8500 - 15000 €