Power figure "iteo" · D. R. Congo, Teke · ID: 3048669
Description
wood, clay, rest. (right foot), missing parts
With the present figure, the body is almost completely hidden under an oversized inverted clay cone, with only the head and legs protruding.
According to Lehuard, this type of figure is called “iteo” or “fouiti” (in Kikongo) by the Teke (Lehuard, 1974, p. 142). The mass is said to consist of white earth kneaded with special herbs, which the Teke call “maka”. “Iteo” embodies the spirit of fortune and happiness (“ngankouya”) and sometimes the spirit of a deceased person.
In a later publication Lehuard refers to a statuette called “iteo” as a figure that is supposed to bring luck and wealth (Lehuard 1996, p. 284, 18.2.1).
The object Power figure “iteo” with the object ID 3048669 was last part of the auction 98th Auction at March 26, 2022 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 316 achieved a sales price of EUR 3,000.
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Comparing literature
Lehuard, Raoul, Statuaire du Stanley-Pool, Villier-le-Bel 1974, p. 142, ill. 78 Lehuard, Raoul, Les arts Bateke, Arnouville 1996, p. 284, 18.2.1
Publications
Lehuard, Raoul, Les arts Bateke, Arnouville 1996, p. 273, 11.1.1