Online catalogue for the 67th tribal art auction

441 Power figure "nkisi"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Songe

wood, greyish brown patina with remains of black paint, encrusted in some areas, brass tags of different size inserted as eyes, metal tag in the head, remains of a fur loincloth, typical posture, both hands resting aside a bulging abdomen, the proportionally large head provided with a broad mouth situated at the tip of the chin, crowned by a flat ring-shaped headcrest, slightly dam. (mouth), the lower part of the body marked by traces of insect caused damage, base and foot zone in the front area missing, facial features and headcrest abraded, traces of old age and usage, metal base; the multiple chiefdoms forming the Songe cultural complex are particularly known for their variety and abundance of magical figures. There were large-sized "nkisi" figures, belonging to a whole village community. They were created to promote fecundity and ferility or to insure peace in the village. Aside, there are the smaller "mankisi" (sing. "nkisi"), which are kept in the house and should protect its inhabitants. They were often handed down from one generation to the next. These small "mankisi" were even taken along when people left their homes.The determinating factor in their assessment is not visual but is rather dependent on the magical ingredients "bishimba" concealed in the abdominal cavity, the top of the head or in a horn set into the cranium. These hidden animal, vegetal and some mineral substances acquire potency and interact with the spirit realm when assembled according to a prescribed formula by the "nganga". Symbolically they may be grouped in two categories: those that provide the agressive content capable of counteracting the source of malovelent action such as the claws of a leopard, the scales of a venomous snake or the feathers of a hawk. And those substances having the desired positive effect on the customer.

H: 26 cm
H: 10.2 inch

Provenance
Pierre Dartevelle, Brussels, Belgium
Alain de Monbrison, Paris, France

Expertise
Certificat d' Authenticite, Alain de Monbrison, Paris, le 21 avril 2011

Price: 15000 - 30000 €

442 Caryatid stool

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Songe

wood, shiny, reddish brown patina, powerful expressive forms, min. dam., fissures, slight traces of abrasion, insect caused damage on the underside of the base; the use of such stools was reserved for special occacions, such as birth, initiation, marriage, or a case of death. They were reserved for a political and spiritual "upper class", such as chiefs, priests, medicine men, healers and dignitaries. They mainly fullfilled representative and/or ritual functions, but were donated to kings or merited dignitaries as well. They were not destined to be shown in public.

H: 49 cm
H: 19.3 inch

Provenance
Henri Kamer, Cannes/Paris, France
Hans Hess, Basel, Switzerland
Walter Schweizer, Kastanienbaum, Switzerland
René David, Zurich, Switzerland (1968)
Eduard Hess, Basel, Switzerland

Exposed in
Arts d´Afrique et d´Oceanie, Cannes 1957, No 273; Afrique Noire, Musée des Beaux Arts, La Chaux-de-Fonds 1971, 27.3. - 6.6. 1971

Published in
Afrique Noire, Sculptures des collections privées suisses, La Chaux-de-Fond 1971, ill. 35

Literature
Bocola, Sandro (Hg.), Afrikanische Sitze, München, New York 1994, p. 124

Sold.

443 Personal magical figure

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Songe

ivory, regular forms, sharp cut facial features with a broad mouth, rep. (base); Rare !

H: 13 cm
H: 5.1 inch

Provenance
Old Belgian Collection

Price: 1000 - 2000 €

444 Personal magical figure

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Songe

ivory, tribe-typical posture and facial features, small cavities in belly and head, filled with magical substances, slightly dam., missing part (chin); Rare!

H: 10 cm
H: 3.9 inch

Provenance
Patrick Peire, Brugge, Belgium

Price: 600 - 1200 €

445 Axe

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Songe

metal, copper sheet, wooden handle, curved blade with a hole in the centre, with chased and punched decorations, min. dam., slight traces of usage and corrosion

L: 40 cm
L: 15.7 inch

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

Price: 700 - 1500 €

446 Mask "kaseba"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Suku

wood, reddish brown patina, red and white pigment (khula and kaolin), expressive forms, characterized by bulging cheeks and a long projecting chin with strumous outgrowth, the pointed tip serving as handle, slightly dam., cracks, paint rubbed off; female version of the mask "kakuungu", originally completed by an abundant coiffure of grass fibre with various charms attached (feathers, packets of magical substances, horns etc.). The "kakuungu" mask type was used in initiation to manhood contexts by the charm specialist "yisidika" to insure the well-being of the initiates.

H: 71 cm
H: 28 inch

Provenance
Adalbert von Alföldy, Eislingen, Germany

Literature
Bourgeois, Arthur P., Art of the Yaka and Suku, Paris 1984, p. 149

Price: 800 - 1600 €

447 Power figure "biteki"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Teke

wood, middle brown patina, the body up to the neck encrusted with magical mass, eyes inset with white porcelain discs, tribe-typical headgear, dam., fragmentary legs, min. dam., traces of insect caused damage, on base

H: 25 cm
H: 9.8 inch

Price: 850 - 1500 €

448 Standing male power figure "biteki"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Teke

wood, partly encrusted brown patina, a voluminous spherical package of clay-like magical mass enclosing the body, the bearded head with tribe-typical headgear, min. dam., cracks, slight traces of abrasion, on wooden base; such power figures served as patron for hunting and should protect against diseases and evil spirits. Their magical power was kept in a cylindrical package, called "bilongo", which includes the special ingredients put together according to the needs of the person in question. The package was fixed at the abdomen because to the Teke, magical wisdom can be swallowed and preserved in the stomach.

H: 24 cm
H: 9.4 inch

Price: 1200 - 2500 €

449 Power half figure

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Tetela

wood, remains of kaolin, sacrificial traces, of simple form, dressed in fabric and reptile skin affixed by leather strips, attached paraphernalia (cowrie snails, metal tags, bones), min. dam., cracks, on wooden base; the Tetela live in central Zaire, artistically they can be divided in the Northern and the Southern Tetela. The northern group had all the characteristics of forest peoples, while the southern ones were savanna peoples. Statuary of the south emulates or interprets styles of the northern Songe, with whom they were in constant conflict yet had exchanges.

H: 15,5 cm
H: 6.1 inch

Literature
Felix, Marc L., 100 Peoples of Zaire and their Sculpture, Brüssel 1987, p. 174

Sold.

450 Mask of the "ndunga" society

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Woyo

light brown wood, remains of black and red paint, of oval form with a flat chin, a slightly bulging forehead with raised middle ridge merging into a broad nose, a large mouth with full lips and visible teeth, min. dam., cracks, missing parts, traces of abrasion, on base; the "ndunga" society stands in the service of the "ntinu" (king) and the chiefs of the "great families" and had policing and military function.The members of the "ndunga" are guarantors of the maintenance of power and respect for the law.

H: 35 cm
H: 13.8 inch

Provenance
Coll. Helmut Gernsheim, Castagnola, Switzerland
Coll. Arendt Oetker, Berlin, Germany
Lucien van de Velde, Antwerp, Belgium

Literature
Herreman, Frank, Petridis, Constantijn (ed.), Face of the Spirits, Tervuren 1993, p. 24

Price: 5000 - 10000 €