Standing male figure · D. R. Congo, Mbala · ID: 3032419
Fily Keita, Los Angeles, USA
Description
wood, reddish brown patina, accentuated genital, hands resting in front of the breast, an oval face with big eyes, hanging lids and drilled noseholes, min. dam., cracks, slight traces of abrasion, on wooden base;
the Mbala live in the Southwestern area of Zaire. Aside of helmet masks, they have figures called “pindi”, which are usually part of a chiefs’ treasure. Some are representations of drummers “limba”, which are used in rites of succession of the land chiefs, but there are also maternities with children. Other anthropomorphic power objects include small male and female pairs, that “nganga” used for healing ceremonies.
The object Standing male figure with the object ID 3032419 was last part of the auction 68th tribal art auction at March 3, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 452 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,500.
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Comparing literature
Felix, Marc L., 100 Peoples of Zaire and their Sculpture, Brüssel 1987, p. 103, ill. 5