Mbala neckrest
Superb African neckrest of a type rarely encountered. This is a caryatid headrest of Mbala origin, Kwilu province (southwest of the Democratic Republic of Congo). This is a very special object because it was sculpted in the style of the Master of Molime, so several famous examples are present in museums, in particular that of the Staatliches Museum für Völkerkunde in Munich (Germany).
Among the Mbala, certain forms of headrest – and in particular those with figurative supports – are known to have been reserved for chiefs.
Such a restriction has been interpreted as reflecting the fact that primary authority rests on the assent of the people, that the leader must listen to them as he does symbolically when he rests his head on the headrest.
Another interpretation, however, could be that the limitation to chiefs has less to do with the exercise of political wisdom than with the nature of the hierarchy: in other words, its authority is supreme and weighs on its subjects.
02448
Data sheet
- Presumed dating
- 2nd half XXth
- Size
- 12 cm
- Ethnic group
- Material(s)
- Wood
- Country
- Origin
- Tribal art collection Belgium
- Condition
- Excellent
You might also like
Customers who bought this product also bought:
Superb African neckrest of a type rarely encountered. This is a caryatid headrest of Mbala origin, Kwilu province (southwest of the Democratic Republic of Congo). This is a very special object because it was sculpted in the style of the Master of Molime, so several famous examples are present in museums, in particular that of the Staatliches Museum für Völkerkunde in Munich (Germany).
Among the Mbala, certain forms of headrest – and in particular those with figurative supports – are known to have been reserved for chiefs.
Such a restriction has been interpreted as reflecting the fact that primary authority rests on the assent of the people, that the leader must listen to them as he does symbolically when he rests his head on the headrest.
Another interpretation, however, could be that the limitation to chiefs has less to do with the exercise of political wisdom than with the nature of the hierarchy: in other words, its authority is supreme and weighs on its subjects.