Standing female figure with tropical helmet · D. R. Congo, Bembe · ID: 3040134
Frank van Craen, Brussels, Belgium
Description
wood, matt shiny dark brown patina, white paint, eyes with white porcelain inlay, characteristic body scarifications, cavity on the backside, abrasion of paint, wooden base;
the opening on the backside was used by the “nganga” to give vital force to the figure, afterwards it was filled with magical material and then closed with a piece of fabric or a plug. As long as the spirit stayed within the statue, it watched over his descendants and punished contempts against customs and rules.
The object Standing female figure with tropical helmet with the object ID 3040134 was last part of the auction 82nd Tribal Art Auction at February 27, 2016 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 455 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,000.
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Publications
Galerie Frank van Craen, Parcours des Mondes, Paris 2013