Ancestor Figure
Teke · Democratic Republic of the Congo
Reference: EMS-59
View 1 of 5 · Press the image to enlarge
- Height
- 20 cm
- Material
- Wood and pigments
Teke male statuettes bear a beard, as it is a symbol of authority and power, so the soothsayer masks and the soothsayers always wear a beard…
Enquire about this objectPhotographs (5)
Full original description
Teke male statuettes bear a beard, as it is a symbol of authority and power, so the soothsayer masks and the soothsayers always wear a beard as an affirmation of their superiority and their sacred powers. They are almost always masculine and linked to magical or religious practices and have healing power. They represent an ancestor or some “nkir” protective spirit. The white-painted eyes symbolize the bones of the ancestor represented by the statue.
This character literally appears in squats, influence of his friends the BembeNice brown and black patina. Ceramic pearl necklace on the neck. Flatbeard coming out of the menton.
Further technical information
- Width
- 7 cm
- Attributed period
- Mid-century XX or earlier.
Details transcribed from the original catalogue; they are not a recent physical inspection.
Country on the map
Democratic Republic of the Congo. The country associated with the catalog is shown, not the current location of the piece.
Google Maps is loaded only when you press the button.
Attributions, dates and accounts come from the preserved catalogue. They do not constitute certification of authenticity or provenance. An object’s presence on this website does not mean it is available for sale.
