Miniature power figure "biteki" · D. R. Congo, Teke · ID: 3032707
Vera und Wolfgang Nerlich, Munich, Germany
Description
wood, brown patina, a voluminous spherical package of clay-like magical mass enclosing the body, min. dam., small missing parts, slight traces of abrasion, socle;
such power figures served as patron for hunting and should protect against diseases and evil spirits. Their magical power was kept in a cylindrical package, called “bilongo”, which includes the special ingredients put together according to the needs of the person in question. The package was fixed at the abdomen because to the Teke, magical wisdom can be swallowed and preserved in the stomach.
The object Miniature power figure “biteki” with the object ID 3032707 was last part of the auction 72nd tribal art auction at March 9, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 183 achieved a sales price of EUR 450.
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