Janiform figure ·  D. R. Congo, Lega · ID: 3037741

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.

The object Janiform figure with the object ID 3037741 was part of the auction 78th tribal art auction on October 18, 2014. The object with the lot number 448 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,200 with an asking price of EUR 1,000.

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Comparing literature

Biebuyck, Daniel P., Lega, Brussels 2002, p. 168