Standing male figure "mukuya" · D. R. Congo, Bembe · ID: 3041783
sold
EUR 3,300
Provenance
Sotheby’s, London, 3 December 1984, lot 174German Private Collection
Walter Schmidt, Würzburg/Innsbruck, Germany/Austria
Size
H: 13 cm
H: 5.1 inch
Description
wood, partly shiny brown patina, paint remains, raised scarification marks, eyes with white porcelain inlay, both hands holding a rattle, drilled hole (crypto fetish), min. dam., slight traces of abrasion, base;
the opening was used by the “nganga” to give vital force to the figure, afterwards it was filled with magical material and then closed with a piece of fabric or a plug. As long as the spirit stayed within the statue, it watched over his descendants and punished contempts against customs and rules.
Publications
AHDRC: 00128074