Lot: 385

88th Tribal Art Auction

Ancestor pole with janus head

D. R. Congo, Biombo

Provenance Size Starting price / estimated price
Boris Kegel-Konietzko, Hamburg, Germany (collected in situ, in the village Sungi Munene, Kasai in 1955) H: 39.8 inch This object is not available anymore.

wood, polychrome paint, scarification marks in tribe-typical triangular patterns, dam., traces of weathering and missing parts (at lower end which originally was stuck in the ground), cracks, paint rubbed off in parts, base.
According to H. Himmelheber these poles were erected in different places within the village. After the death of a relative such a pole was placed in front of his/her hut. Double-faced poles represent images of father and mother.


Fröhlich, Willy, Exotische Kunst im Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum, Köln 1971, ill. 139