Power half figure "malembelele" · D. R. Congo, Luntu/Bakwa Luntu · ID: 3041484
Description
wood, surface strongly encrusted with a mixture from sacrificial matters and pigments, drilled holes for attachment of magical mass, nose rubbed off, crack backside, base;
presumably a fetish called “malembelele” which should punish wrongdoers.
The object Power half figure “malembelele” with the object ID 3041484 was last part of the auction 84th Tribal Art Auction at November 5, 2016 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 430.
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
Felix, Marc L., 100 Peoples of Zaire and their Sculpture, Brussels 1987, p. 93, ill. 9