Standing female power figure · D. R. Congo, Rungu · ID: 3038342
Description
wood, mat shiny dark brown patina, drilled hole in the head, larger opening in the belly, closed with plant fibre and cowrie snail, both used for insertion of magical substances, slightly dam. (right ear, mouth), missing parts (left ear, both foot tips), rep. (left shoulder and forearm, right foot tip), block-like base;
ritual sculpture made and used by the Rungu of Zaire, Zambia, and Tanzania is frequently ascribed to their better-known neighbours the Tabwa, Bemba, Fipa or Mambwe. This is probably because the group is no longer the powerful kingdom it used to be in the 18th century, and today lives scattered among stronger groups. Yet they do produce, and still use, sculpture that has a stylistic individuality and identity, albeit influenced by the art of the peoples surrounding them.
The object Standing female power figure with the object ID 3038342 was last part of the auction 79th Tribal Art Auction at March 21, 2015 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 479.
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Comparing literature
Felix, Marc L., 100 Peoples of Zaire and their Sculpture, Brüssel 1987, p. 150