Standing male ancestor figure "singiti" · D. R. Congo, Hemba, Region: Kongolo, Nkuvu · ID: 3042887
Ketterer, Munich, 3 November 1981, lot 218
Michel Koenig, Brussels, Belgium
Description
wood, dark brown patina, remains of pigments, characteristic “majestic” facial features and posture, without beard, cross-emblem at the backside of the disc-shaped flattened coiffure missing, min. dam., cracks, traces of insect caused damage (base), slight traces of abrasion.
Ancestor figures, called “singiti”, represent famous warriors, clan founders or local chiefs. They were kept in special ceremonial huts, were they were venerated with prayer and sacrifices.
The object Standing male ancestor figure “singiti” with the object ID 3042887 was last part of the auction 87th Tribal Art Auction at November 11, 2017 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 389 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,700.
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Comparing literature
Neyt, Francois, La Grande Statuaire Hemba du Zaire, Louvain-la-Neuve 1977, p. 238 f.
Publications
AHDRC: 0029177