Lot: 304

95th Tribal Art Auction

Janus power figure "mpwau"

D. R. Congo, Teke

Provenance Size Starting price / estimated price
Kim Redlich, Düsseldorf, Germany H: 17.3 inch This object is not available anymore.

wood, base

The Teke carved different kinds of power figures, which were provided with various magical substances and had different functions. They are usually called "biteke".

This special Janus-shaped type of a power figure, was called "mpwau", according to Felix, and belonged to a land chief's regalia.


Felix, Marc L., 100 Peoples of Zaire and their Sculpture, Brussels 1987, p. 172 f.