Standing hunchback figure ·  D. R. Congo, Lega · ID: 3037837

Description

wood, partly encrusted brown patina, closed contours, legs and arms not clearly indicated, reduced facial features, rep. (crack on the right side), small missing parts, slight traces of abrasion, base;
probably depicting “kaluku”; the figurine represents a powerful “kindi” who is now old and goes bent under the burden of the sacred objects he has amassed. In his lifetime he has helped many to aquire “bwami” grades and has been trustee and keeper of collectively owned initiation objects. Old and bent, this person deserves the highest consideration. His body looks weak but his social and moral power in the society is great.

The object Standing hunchback figure with the object ID 3037837 was last part of the auction 78th tribal art auction at October 18, 2014 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 446 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,500.

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Comparing literature

Biebuyck, Daniel P., Lega, Brussels 2002, p. 128, ill. 69