Standing female figure "pindi" ·  D. R. Congo, Mbala · ID: 3032618

Description

wood, rich reddish brown patina with traces of black paint, heavy breasts, a broad face with “lowered” lids, raised middle crest and neck lobe, slightly dam. (mouth, ears), missing part (left forearm/already missing in 1973, see K. F. Schaedler), on base;
aside of helmet masks, the Mbala carve figures called “pindi”, which are usually part of chiefs’ treasure. Present figure could have been part of a male/female pair that “nganga” used for healing ceremonies. The accentuation of the breasts could as well be a hint, that the figure was used at fertility rites.

The object Standing female figure “pindi” with the object ID 3032618 was last part of the auction 69th tribal art auction at June 2, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 200 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,000.

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Comparing literature

Felix, Marc L., 100 Peoples of Zaire and their Sculpture, Brüssel 1987, p. 102 f.

Publications

Schädler, Karl-Ferdinand, Afrikanische Kunst in Deutschen Privatsammlungen, München 1973, p. 342, ill. 492