Songye power figure
Art and power: the statuary of the Basongye
This superb African statue of Songye origin is very similar to a copy of nkishi belonging to the Museum of Ethnology in Hamburg (inv. 63.17.06) see attached photo.
The head is turned to the right at a right angle. The face in naturalistic style, presents a detailed goatee like the sculpted headdress.
Note also the treatment of the hands on which the thumb is separated, resting on the prominent abdomen. This piece with a very dark and smooth patina is halfway between the figure of an ancestor and the statue of power.
The piece was certainly harvested in Lomami province in the 1970s.
01797
Data sheet
- Presumed dating
- Mid XXth century
- Size
- 42 cm
- Ethnic group
- Material(s)
- Wood
- Country
- Origin
- Tribal art collection Belgium
- Condition
- Excellent
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Art and power: the statuary of the Basongye
This superb African statue of Songye origin is very similar to a copy of nkishi belonging to the Museum of Ethnology in Hamburg (inv. 63.17.06) see attached photo.
The head is turned to the right at a right angle. The face in naturalistic style, presents a detailed goatee like the sculpted headdress.
Note also the treatment of the hands on which the thumb is separated, resting on the prominent abdomen. This piece with a very dark and smooth patina is halfway between the figure of an ancestor and the statue of power.
The piece was certainly harvested in Lomami province in the 1970s.