Janiform figure
D. R. Congo, Lega
sold
EUR 2,200
Size
H: 9,5 cm
H: 3.7 inch
Description
light brown wood, partly dark brown patina, remains of pigments, oval base, a neck carved with rings, crowned by a janus head with nearly identical facial features, but varying eyes, min. dam., cracks, traces of abrasion;
presumably a depiction of “sameisomabili” or “sakimatwematwe”, “Mr Many Heads”, the man of far-reaching knowledge; was probably owned by a preceptor (“nsinga”) of the “lutombo lwa yananio” grade.