Standing male power figure "buti"
Click here to view a larger version of the imageLot: 238
92nd Tribal Art AuctionStanding male power figure "buti"
D. R. Congo, Teke
Provenance | Size | Starting price / estimated price |
---|---|---|
Patrick Peire, Brugge, Belgium Frans Heymans, Antwerp, Belgium Zemanek-Münster, 25 February 2006, Lot 352 German Private Collection |
H: 18.3 inch | This object is not available anymore. |
wood, pigments, base
Among the Teke, a freshly sculpted figure is called "tege" and is considered to have no power.
The statues mystical power will come from the actions of a specialist practitioner in magical arts, the "nga", who will smear a mixture of kaolin and tula (red wood powder) on the bust of the sculpture. Then the "nga" will introduce into the abdominal cavity of the figure a "power charge" made up from different elements coming from the vegetal, animal and mineral world called "bonga"bwanga".
After the magical charge was applied, the figures were called "buti".