Description:

Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Songye peoples, ca. early 20th century CE. One of my favorite pieces of African art! A charming, diminutive fetish figure of a woman. She is made of wood, with woven and dangling textiles forming much of her clothing. Hide has been sewn onto the soles of her feet to form shoes and she has been given a hide skirt with some thick, dark brown fur remaining on one side. Her head is a wooden mask of the Kifwebe style, with incised lines and a highly stylized face including what appears to be human hair sprouting from her nose. More woven textile is sewn to the back of the mask, with feathers on their end, suggesting the tail of a rooster or hen. Size: 4.25" W x 10.3" H (10.8 cm x 26.2 cm)

The kifwebe is used to symbolize the connection of local ruling elites with spiritual powers. The elite in the Songye culture are seen as those who know witchcraft and sorcery in the society, and the striated lines of the mask can be read by the right person to decode some of this mystical knowledge.

Provenance: private Allen Davis collection, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

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#124866

  • Condition: Figure is slightly fragile, with wear to the textile and hide, especially on the upper body. The mask has some small chips to the wood.

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July 11, 2017 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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