Standing male figure ·  D. R. Congo, Basikasingo · ID: 3033458

Description

wood, dark brown patina, tribe-typical facial features with beard, min. dam., minor missing parts, cracks, slight traces of abrasion;
the Basikasingo have rites for ancestors, who have the power to cause disease and misfortune. If a mischief happened, people tried to experience the wishes of the ancestors by interpreting dreams and by soothsaying. They were kept in small shrines under the authority and guardianship of a petty chief, village headman or dominant lineage elder. Sometimes such figures were individually identified ancestors, called “bashumbu”.

The object Standing male figure with the object ID 3033458 was last part of the auction 70th tribal art auction at September 8, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 376.

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Comparing literature

Biebuyck, Daniel P., Statuary from the pre-Bembe hunters, Tervuren 1981, p. 42, ill. 33