Online catalogue for the 66th tribal art auction

421 Face mask "idimu"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Lega

wood, whitened with a thick layer of kaolin, flat oval facial plane, divided by an elongated grooved nose bridge, curved brows with incisions, slightly dam., missing parts at the back of the rim, on metal base; Lega masks are "bwami" initiation objects. There are five different types: "lukwakongo", "kayamba", "idimu", "muminia", and "lukungu". They serve as important marks of rank, identifying the owners as members of specific "bwami" levels. The "idimu" mask is owned collectively and is kept by an appropriate member of "yananio" or "kindi". In a major performance , the "idumu" mask is hung on a fence surrounded by the smaller, individually owned "lukwakongo" masks.

H: 27 cm
H: 10.6 inch

Provenance
Alain Dufour, Saint Maur, France

Expertise
Certificat D' Authenticite, Galerie Afrique - Alain Dufour, St Maur, 12 Juin 2006

Literature
Cameron, Elisabeth L., Art of the Lega, Los Angeles 2001, ill. 9.35

Sold.

422 Standing figure "kakulu"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Lega

wood, reddish brown patina, small remains of kaolin, handle-shaped arms, the flattened oval facial plane originally whitened with kaolin, simplified facial features, fine grooves indicating the coiffure, slightly dam., paint rubbed off, on metal plate; most works of Lega sculpture (wood, ivory, bone and stone) are objects for "bwami" society and are kept in ritual baskets. They represent mythical beings or depict proverbs and are used as teaching implements or mnemonic devices. There are different types of anthropomorphic figures, depicting various characters.

H: 27,5 cm
H: 10.8 inch

Literature
Felix, Marc L., 100 Peoples of Zaire and their Sculpture, Brüssel 1987, p. 70
Cameron, Elisabeth L., Art of the Lega, Los Angeles 2001, p. 116 f.

Price: 3500 - 6000 €

423 Small couple of figures

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Lega

light brown wood, partly encrusted dark brown patina, male/female, both show a similar posture and nearly identical facial features, small deepenings filled with magical mass on top of the heads, inscription on the back of the lower legs "FC8689", slightly dam., paint rubbed off, minor missing parts (the left foot tips of both of the figures), on base; according to Marc Léo Félix the couple once belonged to a clan leader or a family elder. Presumably they depict the primary ancestors who act as intermediaries between the living and the dead. A phenomenon which is classical for Eastern Zaire. Figures of this type are extremely rare !

H: 11 cm resp. 12 cm, first quarter of the 20th century
H: 4.3 inch resp. 4.7 inch, first quarter of the 20th century

Provenance
Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich, Germany
Marc L. Felix, Brussels, Belgium
Galerie Franke, Stuttgart, Germany

Price: 4000 - 8000 €

424 Standing figure

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Lega

ivory, honey brown patina, simplified forms, circular incised eyes with drilled hole in the centre, dotted tattoos in linear lines, accentuated by dark brown pigment rubbed into the deepenings, slightly dam.

H: 14 cm
H: 5.5 inch

Literature
Cameron, Elisabeth L., Art of the Lega, Los Angeles 2001, p. 116 f.
Biebuyck, Daniel P., Lega, Brüssel 2002, ill. 106 f.

Sold.

425 Janus figure

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Lega

wood, middle brown patina, reduced forms, slightly dam.

H: 18 cm
H: 7.1 inch

Provenance
Old Colonial Collection, Belgium

Price: 800 - 1500 €

426 Small head sculpture

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Lega

ivory, rising from a long conical neck, a triangular tattoo on the forehead and incised zigzag motif at the base, min. dam., on base; within men's society "bwami" just members of the "kindi" level were allowed to possess such ivory figures. Each object was combined with special proverbs implying positive or negative meaning, depending on the context in which they were used.

H: 13,5 cm
H: 5.3 inch

Provenance
Jo de Buck, Brussels, Belgium

Literature
Cameron, Elisabeth L., Art of the Lega, Los Angeles 2001, p. 116 ff.

Price: 4000 - 6000 €

427 Oblong object

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Lega

ivory, decorated with dotted patterns, accentuated with black pigment rubbed into the deepenings, notched back, good condition; such objects, reminiscent of miniature axes or hammers, were often used by the initiated for transmitting secret messages.

H: 17 cm
H: 6.7 inch

Provenance
Old Colonial Collection, Belgium

Literature
Biebuyck, Daniel P., Lega, Brüssel 2002, ill. 168
Cameron, Elisabeth L., Art of the Lega, Los Angeles 2001, p. 100

Sold.

428 Mask

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Lele

wood, dark brown patina, painted with red and white dots, of flat u-shaped form with simplified facial features, forehead, nose and mouth stud with metal sheet, pierced around the rim, min. dam., minor missing parts, traces of abrasion; the fitting of masks with metal sheet means more than just decoration. An intrinsic power is ascribed to metal, closely associated with the way it is produced, namely "from earth to fire". Because of its red color copper is associated with blood, sacrificial offerings, executions and war, but equally with fertility and vitality.

H: 28,5 cm
H: 11.2 inch

Provenance
Peter Loebarth, Hameln, Germany

Literature
Felix, Marc L., 100 Peoples of Zaire and their Sculpture, Brüssel 1987, p. 75, ill. 10

Sold.

429 Anthropomorphic face mask "shifola"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Lualwa

wood, blackish brown patina, kaolin, distinctive face with a protruding forehead, linear scarification marks accentuated with kaolin, cord underneath the nose for fixing the mask with the teeth in front of the face, slightly dam., cracks, metal base; the main works of the Lualwa/Lwalwa are their masks. They are all used in the "bangongo" dance to quiet the spirits, increase hunting success, and initiate "bangongo" society dancers. They sometimes perform at funerals of high ranking dignitaries. They are danced only at night, so as not to harm women. There are four main types: the present mask type with a short round nose and a protruding forehead called "shifola", the well-known "mfondo" mask is a male mask with a long nose, but not as long as the "nkaki" type. The fourth type is a female mask "mushika" .

H: 30 cm
H: 11.8 inch

Provenance
Patric Claes, Brussels, Belgium
Private Collection, Belgium

Literature
Felix, Marc L., 100 Peoples of Zaire and their Sculpture, Brüssel 1987, p. 94

Price: 6000 - 12000 €

430 Small male oracle figure

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D. R. Congo, Luba

wood, brown patina, remains of pigments, stylized forms and facial features, a hole on top of the head filled with magical mass, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion, on base

H: 11,5 cm
H: 4.5 inch

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

Price: 750 - 1500 €