Figure of a female chief · D. R. Congo / Angola, Chokwe · ID: 3048684
Zemanek-Münster, Würzburg, 23 September 2006, Lot 305
Werner Zintl, Worms, Germany
Description
wood, black colour, pokerwork, missing part, rep., base
Female figures were often part of a male-female couple.
It has been suggested that this kind of paired statue represents a couple of unspecified ancestors or chiefs, the primordial ancestors of the creation of the world, or the mythical ancestors of the Chokwe, “Chibinda Ilunga” and “Lweji”. “Lweji” was the first Lunda female chief and the wife of the cultural hero “Chibinda Ilunga”.
This figure is female, but still wears a chin beard (probably as a sign of dignity and authority) and the typical chiefly headdress.
The object Figure of a female chief with the object ID 3048684 was part of the auction 98th Auction on March 26, 2022. The object with the lot number 108 achieved a sales price of EUR 3,100 with an asking price of EUR 2,500.
You can find more Figures and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on African art.
Comparing literature
Jordán, Manuel (ed.), Chokwe!, München, London, New York 1998, ill. 9
Publications
Zemanek-Münster, "Tribal Art", Würzburg, May 2007:9 (promotional book of best pieces sold)
AHDRC: 0000171