Late 20th C. African Songye Wood Standing Male Figure

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Pre-Columbian | Tribal | Oceanic

By Artemis Gallery

Mar 18, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-03-18 10:00:00 2021-03-18 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Pre-Columbian | Tribal | Oceanic https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/pre-columbian-tribal-oceanic-6520
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• Lot Description
  Central Africa, northern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Songye peoples, ca. 1980s CE. A wonderful carved-wood figure known as a nkisi (male) power figure of a substantial size depicted standing on a circular base with his hands on their rotund belly. Supported by a ribbed, tubular neck, the stylized figure's oversized head showcases a long square chin, a smiling mouth, a triangular nose, and slender slanted eyes under an arched brow, all flanked by a pairof incised ears. Attenuated arms hang from his square shoulders, while his bulbous belly hangs over his cuboid legs, flat feet, and phallus. The intriguing figure is adorned with an animal fur loin cloth held up by a tasseled woven rope of vegetal fiber and an elaborate headdress of cloth, fur, and a strand of red and yellow glass trade beads that cascade down his back and wrap around his chest. A strand of white and blue glass trade beads, a strip of fur, and a woven fiber rope are all coiled around his body. A cavity atop the head originally held a horn symbolic of a power conduit. Rich brown patina covers the entire figure and provides for an attractive presentation. Size: 7.375" W x 27.5" H (18.7 cm x 69.8 cm)
  
  Songye power figures are created to protect a community and mediate between the living and spiritual realms to cure ailments. Figures that are employed in ceremonial uses have real horns protruding from the center of the head and often also exhibit hammered brass panels which are applied to the face. Power figures are kept in a sanctuary under the care of a guardian when not in use.
  
  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)
  
  Provenance: Ex-Phoenicia Holyland Antiquities
  
  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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  #162642

  Condition

  Expected age wear with stable fissures and a few light nicks/chips to peripheries. Otherwise, excellent with rich earthen deposits and liberal remains of fur.
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