Janusheaded ritual implement · D. R. Congo, Basikasingo · ID: 3032226
Toni Dähler, Basel, Switzerland
Eduard Hess, Basel, Switzerland
Description
wood, red pigment, kaolin, sacrificial traces, a long conical neck carved with two identical bearded faces, face halves dyed in different colours, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion;
the sculpture presumably represents “kalunga”, one of the aquatic spirits “miha”. The creation of such a figure was ordered by the soothsayer in order to counteract misfortune, which the spirit might inflict on the people. “Miha” received ritual chicken sacrifices to keep him well-disposed.
The object Janusheaded ritual implement with the object ID 3032226 was part of the auction 68th tribal art auction on March 3, 2012. The object with the lot number 203 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,600 with an asking price of EUR 1,000.
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Comparing literature
Biebuyck, Daniel P., Statuary from the pre-Bembe hunters, Tervuren 1981, p. 153, ill. 42