Standing male figure "biteki"
D. R. Congo, Teke
not available anymore
Provenance
German Private Collection, BerlinSize
H: 39 cm
H: 15.4 inch
Description
wood, partly encrusted brown patina, small cavity with remains of magical mass in the upper part of the body , min. dam., missing parts through insect caused damage, cracks, base;
such protective and magical figures are used as a prophylaxis against sleeping sickness and other illnesses. In some examples the medicine package “bilongo” is missing. Such packages are often scraped out by the “nganga”, little by little, and sold as healing or protective dust.