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THBLarge 20th C. African Songye Wood Kalebwe Figure
Lot 131c
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
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Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$6,000 - $9,000
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About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Dec 3, 2020
Set Reminder
2020-12-03 10:00:00
2020-12-03 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities, Ethnographic & Fine Art
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-ethnographic-fine-art-6119
Features classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe. Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, Asian, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, Russian, Fine Art, so much more! All legally acquired, legal to sell. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Features classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe. Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, Asian, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, Russian, Fine Art, so much more! All legally acquired, legal to sell. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (381)
- Lot Description
Central Africa, northern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kalebwe region, Songye/Western Kalebwe peoples, ca. first half of the 20th century CE. A fantastic example of a carved wooden community power figure known as a kalebwe with 'legs' comprised of a solid, tapered base. The upper body projects up from the base and exhibits a slender torso, protruding points on the chest and navel, stocky hands on narrow hips, and arms that drape from broad shoulders, The inverted piriform face bears inlaid cowrie shell eyes flanking a triangular nose, pursed lips, a sharply angled chin, and a puffy central brow, all beneath a rounded top with a recessed offering receptacle. Two strands of trade beads surround the neck in blue and white colors, and the entire figure boasts lustrous layers of dark brown pigment. Size: 6.4" W x 23.375" H (16.3 cm x 59.4 cm); 23.625" H (60 cm) on included custom stand.
The piece exhibits a few characteristics which are unique to Songye artistry. Kalebwe figures, from the northern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, tend to have chins with a square profile rather than rounded chins typical of the southern Kibeshi figures. The second feature is the hollowed receptacle at the top of the head, which is intended for the insertion of fetish material known as bishimba, which symbolically imbues the figure with special powers. According to Jean-Baptist Bacquart, "A 'specialist', called the Nganga, then attached magical objects such as snakeskins, feathers, metal necklaces and bracelets to the figure to enhance the power even more. Occasionally these figures are suspended for apotropaic purposes inside a house by inserting a metal rod under each arm." ("The Tribal Arts of Africa: Surveying Africa's Artistic Geography." Thames & Hudson, New York, 2000, p. 168)
For a similar example with copper and snake-skin adornments, please see: Bacquart, Jean-Baptiste. "The Tribal Arts of Africa: Surveying Africa's Artistic Geography." Thames & Hudson, New York, 2000, p. 168, fig. 2.
A stylistically similar example hammered for EUR 79,500 ($87,658.29) at Christie's, Paris "Art d'Afrique, d'Oceanie et d'Amerique du Nord" auction (sale 3566, December 10, 2013, lot 102).
Another stylistically similar example hammered for EUR 100,000 ($110,262) at Christie's, Paris "Arts d'Afrique, d'Oceanie et d'Amerique" auction (sale 16061, April 10, 2018, lot 83).
Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-private German collection; ex-Zemanek-Munster, Wurzburg, Germany
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
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#154645Nicks and abrasions to base, hands, arms, body, and head, with loss to half of one finger as shown, with light encrustations, and several stable fissures, otherwise intact and excellent. Nice earthen deposits and remains of original pigment throughout.Condition
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