Bell

Tetela · Democratic Republic of the Congo

Reference: IDIOF-8

View 1 of 5 · Press the image to enlarge

Height
59 cm
Material
IRON

Bells and bells, both metallic and wooden, besides having their use in playful and religious ceremonies are a valuable instrument used by the fortune teller to…

Enquire about this object
Full original description

 

Bells and bells, both metallic and wooden, besides having their use in playful and religious ceremonies are a valuable instrument used by the fortune teller to determine the cause of a disease or a problem. This iron bell has the virtue of awakening the powers of the hereafter that once established contact with this world will help the diviner in his predictions thus serving to mark the divinatory rhythms.

They are also used by healers, who are often the same fortune tellers, to call the spirits to channel their forces over the sick and help them locate the origin of the evil, which is often foreign bodies that have entered the sick causing their sufferings. Once located the healer will remove and throw away these strange objects, rusty nails for example or powdery, and the patient will recover his health.

Further technical information
Attributed period
Mid-century XX

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.

← Back to results