Power figure
D. R. Congo, Luba
not available anymore
Provenance
Belgium Colonial Collection, AntwerpPhilippe Laeremans, Liège, Belgium
Size
H: 27 cm
H: 10.6 inch
Description
light brown wood, reddish brown patina, black paint remains, conical corpus, carved with four anthropomorphic faces, crowned by a big package containing magical substances, animal skin, strings of glass- and wooden beads, min. dam., traces of insect caused damage and abrasion, minor missing parts, on wooden 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.