Male ancestor figure "singiti"
Click here to view a larger version of the imageLot: 250
93rd Tribal Art AuctionMale ancestor figure "singiti"
D. R. Congo, Hemba, Niembo style
Provenance | Size | Starting price / estimated price |
---|---|---|
Ludwig Bretschneider, Munich, Germany (1972) | H: 22 inch | This object is not available anymore. |
wood, rep. (base), on pedestal
This idealized portrait commemorated and honored the lifetime accomplishments of a deceased male ancestor. With its serene expression the figure embodies the dignity and wisdom of a respected elder.
As spiritual mediators between the living and the dead, these figures were preserved in a shrine, where they were paid homage with prayers and blood sacrifices.
The figures also provided a powerful ideological message about family continuity and legitimized the political authority inherited by the ancestor’s living kin.
Neyt, Francois, La Grande Statuaire Hemba du Zaire, Louvain-la-Neuve 1977