Small whistle ·  D. R. Congo, Lega · ID: 3037845

Description

ivory, decorated with tribe-typical circle ornaments with central drilling, min. dam., traces of abrasion, small missing parts, fine cracks through age, base;
Lega whistles have multiple uses and meanings depending on the context in which they were used. For example during “bwami” initiations, they may be blown to prevent rainfall or the lead singer during initiations uses it to give instructions or sing praises.

The object Small whistle with the object ID 3037845 was last part of the auction 78th tribal art auction at October 18, 2014 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 451.

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Comparing literature

Cogdell, Jacqueline, Turn up the Volume! University of California 1999, p. 307, ill. 90