Small standing figure "phuungu" ·  D. R. Congo, Suku · ID: 3033502

Description

wood, shiny dark brown patina, remains of pigments, both arms folded in front of the body, a cavity filled with magical substance in the chest, min. dam., fissures, slight traces of abrasion, on wooden base;
possibly there were packages of magical loading attached to both arms and further paraphernalias added to the figure, which is presumably a magical figure “phuungu”. These figures served as containers for protective magical power exercised by the experts against illness, to avenge sorcery and for supernatural assistance in hunting.

The object Small standing figure “phuungu” with the object ID 3033502 was last part of the auction 70th tribal art auction at September 8, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 468.

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