Zemanek-Münster

Ritual whistle "nsiba" ·  D. R. Congo, Yombe · ID: 3033970

sold EUR 5,200
Provenance
John J. Klejman, New York, 1970s or earlier
American Private Collection, New York
Size
H: 20,5 cm
H: 8.1 inch

Description

wood, rich blackish brown patina, in shape of an animal horn with striations at the base, crowned by a small standing figure with snake, head in profile, rep. (right arm, left wrist), on base;
in shape of a whistle. Ritual specialists and diviners use the whistle in their rituals as a tool with which one can communicate with spirits and the dead. The sound it emits is considered to go straight to a supernatural realm.


The object Ritual whistle “nsiba” with the object ID 3033970 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 458 achieved a sales price of EUR 5,200.

Here you will find more objects and interesting facts about African art.


Comparing literature

Maurer, Evan, Batulukisi, Niangi, Spirits Embodied, Minneapolis 1999, p. 65, ill. 9


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