Power figur · D. R. Congo, Songe / Luba · ID: 3041500
sold
EUR 8,000
Provenance
René Rasmussen, Paris, FranceSize
H: 28 cm
H: 11.0 inch
Description
wood, brown patina, remains of pigments, conical corpus, wrapped in a “skirt” made from small animal horns, carved with four anthropomorphic faces, crowned by a big package containing magical substances and a small horn, min. dam., missing parts through insect caused damage, fine cracks, slight traces of abrasion, base;
such objects are associated with the all-seeing and all-hearing “bavidye” spirits. They advised against the consequences of ill-will and misbehaviour, and with their help justice was dispensed and peace (re)established. The many heads signal heightened powers of vision and clairvoyance, and the ability of the diviner to see in all directions.
Comparing literature
Sotheby's, New York, 16 May 1985, lot 186 (comparable object)