Fragment of a ritual staff of the "khimba" initiation society ·  D. R. Congo, Bakongo · ID: 3040234

Description

wood, brown patina, remains of pigments, in form of a seated female figure with flat headgear, holding a stick behind the neck, originally consisting of two back to back figures, min. dam., missing parts, cracks, slight traces of abrasion, base;
the grip sticks behind their necks, referring to those used during initiation rites to beat the initiates. The initiates later used them as dance sticks during the concluding ceremonies. They are kept as symbols of their endurance and adult status.

The object Fragment of a ritual staff of the “khimba” initiation society with the object ID 3040234 was part of the auction 82nd Tribal Art Auction on February 27, 2016. The object with the lot number 451 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,000 with an asking price of EUR 700.

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