Figural pendant "mikisi mihasi" ·  D. R. Congo, Luba · ID: 3051043

Description

animal tooth (Hippopotamus amphibius), pigment, miniature glass beads,

A pair of ‘mikisi mihasi’ amulets by the same artist can be found in the collections of the Ethnographic Museum in Antwerp (MAS). It was collected before 1946 (AHDRC 0030136).

“Luba pendants are portraits, or at least likenesses, and are named and honored in memory of certain revered ancestors. Sculpted from bone and horn as well as from ivory, these delicate diminutive figures were suspended from cords together with other objects, including amulets, beads, and horns. The cords were worn diagonally across the chest or were attached to the arm. Devotees anointed the figures with oil in homage to the ancestors” (according to Nooter Roberts & Roberts, 1996, p.108 f.)

The object Figural pendant “mikisi mihasi” with the object ID 3051043 was part of the auction Auction 103 on November 16, 2024. The object with the lot number 223 achieved a sales price of EUR 17,000 with an asking price of EUR 4,500.

Here you will find more objects and interesting facts about African art.

Comparing literature

Roberts, Mary Nooter & Allan F. Roberts, Memory, Luba Art and the Making of History, New York 1996, p. 108 f.