Figure fétiche masculine debout "buti"
R. D. Congo, Teke
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Provenance
Patrick Peire, Brugge, BelgiumFrans Heymans, Antwerp, Belgium
Zemanek-Münster, 25 February 2006, Lot 352
German Private Collection
Taille
H: 46,5 cm
H: 18.3 inch
Description
wood, pigments, base
Among the Teke, a freshly sculpted figure is called “tege” and is considered to have no power.
The statues mystical power will come from the actions of a specialist practitioner in magical arts, the “nga”, who will smear a mixture of kaolin and tula (red wood powder) on the bust of the sculpture. Then the “nga” will introduce into the abdominal cavity of the figure a “power charge” made up from different elements coming from the vegetal, animal and mineral world called “bonga"bwanga”.
After the magical charge was applied, the figures were called “buti”.