Standing male ancestor figure "singiti" · D. R. Congo, Hemba · ID: 3052259
North German Private Collection (1975)
Description
wood, pigments, encrusted sacrifical patina, base
The archetypical Hemba ancestor figure shows the ancestor in a standing posture, hands placed on the navel, eyes half-open and with a peaceful expression.
This posture expresses the dignity of the deceased, refers to the progenitor of the family and shows the ancestor as a guardian who watches over the world of the living while maintaining a connection to the world of the dead.
The figures were preserved in a shrine, where they were paid homage with prayers and blood sacrifices. They were displayed in public during important ceremonies to reinforce the family’s status.
The object Standing male ancestor figure “singiti” with the object ID 3052259 was last part of the auction Auction 105 at November 15, 2025 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 346 achieved a sales price of EUR 3,500.
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