Cross-legged male ancestor figure ·  D. R. Congo, Bakongo · ID: 3039537

Description

wood, matt reddish brown patina, glazed eyes with painted pupils, carved with a titled cap “mpu”, the bangle worn around the wrist denoting social status, old collection label “436” backside, slightly dam., minor missing parts (foot tips), fine cracks (right lower leg), abrasion of paint, base;
the figure was probably a portrait reliquary of an important departed or used in the veneration of ancestral spirits,

The object Cross-legged male ancestor figure with the object ID 3039537 was last part of the auction 81st Tribal Art Auction at October 31, 2015 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 422 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,000.

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Comparing literature

Felix, Marc L. (ed.), Kongo Kingdom Art, China 2003, p. 292, ill. 8,24