Online catalogue for the 68th tribal art auction

441 Anthropomorphic cup "mbwoong ntey"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Kuba

wood, shiny brown patina, tribe-typical coiffure and scarification marks, delicate carved details, min. dam., cracks, minor missing parts; used for ritual purposes for palm wine, which is why such cups were made of precious wood and were carved with special care. The broadened forehead and the shaved temples suggest a horned coiffure, typical for male dignitaries and for women giving birth for the first time.

H: 20,5 cm
H: 8.1 inch

Provenance
Walter Buhl Ford II, Detroit, USA

Price: 3000 - 6500 €

442 Standing colon figure

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Kusu

wood, blackish brown patina, carved with a peaked cap, shorts, shoes and jacket with badges of rank on the sleeves, both hands buried in the pockets, european facial features, slightly dam., missing parts through insect caused damage (cap, base), cracks; a figure resembling a European because equipped with a sun helmet, a uniform, a tie, a wrist watch or similar items may just as well represent an African. Africans dressed in European style can be shown as early as the time of Louis XIV when the ambassador of the King of Ardra was received in the Tuileries.

H: 68 cm
H: 26.8 inch

Provenance
Howard Nowes, New York City, USA

Price: 1800 - 3500 €

443 Standing figure

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Kuyu

wood, encrusted matt patina, polychrome paint, the upper part of the body coated with raised scarification marks, cap-like headgear with two horn-shaped projections, rest., dam., missing parts (feet), cracks, insect caused damage, on base; the western Kuyu compare their chief with a panther, and initiation ceremonies teach the secrets of the animal's powers. Among the eastern Kuyu the serpent "ebongo" is the focus of initiation ("djo"), and his ancestors and offspring are represented in the carved wooden heads that are best-known form of Kuyu sculpture. Kuyu figures are far less common than heads.

H: 122 cm
H: 48 inch

Provenance
Adrian Schlag, Brussels, Belgium

Literature
Nevermann, Hans, Trowell, Margaret, Afrika und Ozeanien, München o.J., p. 96
Vogel, Susan, For spirits and kings, African Art from the Paul and Ruth Tishman Collection, New York 1981, p. 197

Sold.

444 Mask "lukungu"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Bembe

ivory, honey brown patina, of elongated oval form, bean-shaped raised eyes reminding of Bembe style, rectangular scarification marks on the cheeks, two drillings for fixation, min. dam., minor missing parts, slight traces of abrasion; "lukungu" masks belong to members of "bwami"- society who already have reached the highest rank of kindi. The "bwami" society was adopted by some neighbouring ethnic groups of the Lega. "Lukungu" means "skull" and should be a hint that the mask is thought to remind of deceased "kindi" members.

H: 16,5 cm
H: 6.5 inch

Provenance
Friedrich Kühlhorn, Bavaria, Germany (1936)

Sold.

445 Mask

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D. R. Congo, Lele

wood, shiny dark brown patina, of flat u-shaped form, remains of a bonnet made from plant fibres on the rear, pierced around the rim, min. dam., cracks, slight traces of abrasion; the Lele are decisively influenced by neighbouring Kuba groups, which makes it difficult to differentiate their ritual artworks from those of the other Kuba kinsmen. Typical however, are shield-shaped, flat masks, painted in various colours, and with slit pierced eyes, several eye brows, and small mouths.

H: 25,5 cm
H: 10 inch

Provenance
Wolfgang Nerlich, Munich, Germany

Price: 1000 - 2500 €

446 Standing male figure

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Luba

wood, dark brown patina, elongated arms, coiffure in various bulges, hole on the head, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion, on wooden base; the figural carving of the Luba can be divided in two different groups, ritual objects, like the ancestor figures and emblems of power, like figural stools or female bowl bearing figures.

H: 28 cm
H: 11 inch

Sold.

447 Prestige staff

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Luba

metal, wood, dark brown patina, upper part wrapped in stripes of silver and copper sheet, crowned by a janus head with a board-like, triangular headgear, carved with elaborate ornaments, min. dam., slight traces of corrosion and abrasion

H: 123 cm
H: 48.4 inch

Provenance
Pierre Dartevelle, Brussels, Belgium
Max Willborg, Stockholm, Sweden

Price: 1200 - 2000 €

448 Prestige axe

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Nsapo-Nsapo

wood, brown patina, the long handle crowned by a stylized human face, the adze blade emerging from the mouth, iron blade with copper ornaments, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion and corrosion

H: 45,5 cm
H: 17.9 inch

Price: 1500 - 2500 €

449 Neckrest

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Luba

light brown wood, pokerwork, a slightly vaulted pillow with carved decor on both sides, good condition; neckrests served as a kind of pillow, which should preserve the elaborate coiffures at night; they also identified their owner concerning his rank and clan membership.

H: 17 cm; L: 12 cm
H: 6.7 inch; L: 4.7 inch

Provenance
O. M., Belgium
Didier Claes, Brussels, Belgium

Literature
Nettleton, Anitra, African Dream Machines, p. 165, ill. 123

Sold.

450 Pestle

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Luba

wood, light brown patina, pokerwork, in form of a human head resting on a long neck with round base, simplified facial features, five-parted coiffure decorated with metal tags, min. dam., minor missing parts, slight traces of abrasion

H: 26,5 cm
H: 10.4 inch

Provenance
O. M., Belgium
Didier Claes, Brussels, Belgium

Literature
Neyt, Francois, Luba, Aan de Bronnen van de Zaire, Paris 1994, p. 47

Price: 2500 - 4500 €