Head fragment of a power figure "nkisi" · D. R. Congo, Songe, Kalebwe style · ID: 3035366
Description
light wood, small remains of brown patina, a concave vaulted face with waisted sides and projecting chin, nose and mouth carved in geometrical forms, eyes just rudimentary preserved, the strong neck cut, the surface structure extremely marked by insect causded damage (the head hollowed), old collection label backside “Mathias Komor Works of Art C 607 - New York”, metal socle;
the head should once have been part of a big figure, which belonged to a village or a community. These sculptures are created above all to promote fecundity and fertility or to insure tranquility in the village. Most frequently they bear the names “ya ntambwe” (lion) or “ya nkima” (monkey). Often these are the priestesses entrusted with their care and their appearances, particularly during the ceremonies of the new moon (the moon is regarded as the fecund principle).
L’objet Head fragment of a power figure “nkisi” avec l’ID d’objet 3035366 a fait partie de la dernière vente aux enchères 74th tribal art auction dans 7 septembre 2013 le Zemanek-Münster Hôtel des ventes. L’objet portant le numéro de lot 407 a atteint un prix de vente de 1 600 €.
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