Online catalogue for the 67th tribal art auction

411 Half figure

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Lulua

wood, slightly encrusted middle brown patina, remains of kaolin, elaborate scarification marks on the belly, shoulders and neck, high headgear, min. dam., cracks, slight traces of abrasion, on wooden base; half figures illustrate the importance attached to the head and upper body as seats of intelligence and vitality. They were formely used as protection for dwelling and family against all manner of natural or supernatural threats. Usually they were placed in a basket inside the house or under a shelter on the premises.

H: 41 cm
H: 16.1 inch

Provenance
Belgian Private Collection

Literature
Baeke, Viviane (ed.), Treasures from the Africa-Museum Tervuren, Tervuren 1995, p. 153, ill. 119

Sold.

412 Power figure

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Luntu (Bakwa Luntu)

wood, brown patina, traces of black paint and camwood powder, a half figure ending in a point, used to be worn in the belt, slightly dam., breakage (right shoulder), on base; the Luntu used a great variety of fetishes and charms, i. e. for protection in battle, to protect against witchcraft, for a good hunting etc. The present object presumably a fetish "malembelele", which should punish wrongdoers.

H: 23 cm
H: 9.1 inch

Literature
Felix, Marc L., 100 Peoples of Zaire and their Sculpture, Brüssel 1987, p. 92 f.

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413 Sickle knife

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Mangbetu

metal, bent blade, one side showing punched ornaments, handle made from ivory, min. dam., slight traces of corrosion; most likely made as ornamental knife but may have also been used in cultic rites. Their elaborately designed handles often make them to real objects of value.

H: 40,5 cm
H: 15.9 inch

Provenance
Old Dutch Collection

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414 Mask

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Mbole

wood, polychrome paint, of oval flattened form, reduced facial features accentuated by paint, min. dam., traces of insect caused damage and abrasion; as ethnical entity the Mbole belong to the Ngandu, counting about 150000 people. They have their homeland in the northern Democratic Republic of Congo at the Lomami River and its tributaries. Their neighbours are the Lengola and Kumu to the east, and the Yela to the south-west. The Mbole have few masks which are often used at circumcision rites or on funerals of dignitaries of the "lilwa" society.

H: 52 cm
H: 20.5 inch

Provenance
Jean Willy Mestach, Brussels, Belgium
Jan Lundberg, Malmö, Sweden

Literature
Felix, Marc L., 100 Peoples of Zaire and their Sculpture, Brüssel 1987, p. 105, ill. 7
Herreman, Frank, Petridis, Constantijn (ed.), Face of the Spirits, Tervuren 1993, p. 201, ill. 101

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415 Ritual knife

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Momvu

wood, metal, irregularly shaped blade with ornaments on both sides, handle with conical swelling, partly wrapped in wire, min. dam., slight traces of usage and abrasion; such knives are only rare to be found in private and museal collections and no one really knows what function they had. We are sure however, that both men and women, used to carry them alike. In spite of slight variations in the shape of the blade, the same disc-like design is always present.

H: 44 cm
H: 17.3 inch

Provenance
Coll. Dr. Karl-Heinz Kaufel, Hamburg, Germany

Literature
Zirngibl, Manfred A., Seltene afrikanische Kurzwaffen, Grafenau 1983, p. 93

Sold.

416 Mask

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D. R. Congo, Ndaaka/Bali

wood, shiny patina, polychrome paint, of oval form, face halves dyed in different colours, painted with dots, circular pierced eyes, an open mouth with separate worked teeth, pierced around the rim, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion

H: 23,5 cm
H: 9.3 inch

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

Price: 1500 - 3000 €

417 Sitting figure with pipe

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Pende

wood, blackish brown patina, with thin elongated arms holding a round calabash on the lap, the facial features reminding of Pende masks: "snub nose" and eyes with hanging lids, slightly dam., missing parts (base), traces of insect caused damage, cracks, rep. (left wrist)

H: 43 cm
H: 16.9 inch

Provenance
Markus Gunti, Berlin, Germany

Price: 2000 - 4000 €

418 Standing female figure

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Pende

wood, polychrome paint, a slender high towering body, trunk with dotted incisions, tribe-typical facial features, scarification marks and headgear, min. dam., rep. (right foot tip), cracks, slight traces of abrasion, on wooden base; Pende figures are rare, but show the same facial features like the masks. Present figure probably once adorned the roof top of a chief's house.

H: 108,5 cm
H: 42.7 inch

Provenance
Lore Kegel & Dr. Georg Kegel, Hamburg, Germany (1956)

Literature
Strother, Z.S., Pende, Mailand 2008, pl. 37

Price: 2500 - 5000 €

419 Necklace with anthropomorphic amulet mask "ikoko"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Pende

ivory, typical scarification marks, attached to a necklace of cord material with thread animal teeth and blades of grass; such pendant masks were invoked during healing rites, where the patient was obliged to wear a miniature version of the mask around the neck, by way of protection. These pendants were formerly presented as trophies to the boys following their initiation "mukanda".

L: ca. 25 cm (necklace); H: 5,5 cm (ikoko)
L: ca. 9.8 inch (necklace); H: 2.2 inch (ikoko)

Sold.

420 Anthropomorphic amulet mask "ikoko"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Pende

ivory, with a long beard ("mwevu"), which is supposed to be a symbol for authority and wisdom of the ancestors, circular scarification marks, drilled holes for support

H: 5,5 cm
H: 2.2 inch

Price: 600 - 1200 €