Power figure in shape of a drummer · D. R. Congo, Bembe · ID: 3033885
Description
light-weighted wood, brown patina, traces of black paint, eyes with porcelain inlay, necklace with seeds, cavity on the right side of the body, square compartment with incised patterns on the breast, slightly dam., paint rubbed off, on base;
there are two kinds of power figures: the malevolent kind, causing “black magic” (“milindi ya batee”) and the benevolent kind, disposing of curative powers (“milindi ya banya”).
The object Power figure in shape of a drummer with the object ID 3033885 was last part of the auction 71st tribal art auction at November 24, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 358 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,300.
You can find more Figures and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on African art.
Comparing literature
E. M. Maurer, N. Batulukisi, Art of the Congo, Minneapolis 1999, p. 81