Janus figure "kabeja" · D. R. Congo, Hemba · ID: 3032228
Eduard Hess, Basel, Switzerland
Description
wood, encrusted brown patina, male/female, arranged back-to-back, round deepening with magical mass on the head, min. dam., traces of insect caused damage, fissures, on base;
“kabeja” figures are seen as visual icon of the primordial couple, the founders of the society. They are owned by the clan head known as the “fumu mwela”.
The object Janus figure “kabeja” with the object ID 3032228 was part of the auction 68th tribal art auction on March 3, 2012. The object with the lot number 213 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,000 with an asking price of EUR 1,000.
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Comparing literature
Neyt, Francois, Approche des Arts Hemba, Villiers-le-Bel 1975, p. 39