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a wooden statue of a man standing on a black backgrounda wooden statue of a man with a hat on his heada wooden statue of a person standing on a black backgrounda wooden sculpture of a man standing in front of a black backgrounda wooden statue of a man standing on a black backgrounda wooden sculpture of a man with a hat on his heada wooden statue of a man with a hat on his headan old wooden statue of a man with a hat on his heada wooden sculpture of a man with horns on a black background
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Estimate €800 - €1,200
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Description
MANGBETU ‘Beli’ ancestral statue 20th century. Height: 51 cm. Medium-weight wood, light, slightly amber-coloured patina (honey-coloured). This statuette, depicting an ancestor of the Nebeli society, embodies all the hallmarks of Mangbetu aesthetics: - Cranial deformation (lipa-ko) elongates the head towards the back. In reality, infants’ skulls were bound with raffia cords to achieve this shape, a sign of intelligence and social distinction. - The flared headdress worn by men, which accentuates the elongation of the skull. - The body is adorned with traditional, complex geometric scarifications (lines and curves). The face of this refined statuette bears distinctive scarifications with dark pigmentation. The nose, with its resemblance to that of the pharaohs of ancient Egypt, here evokes the supposed Nilotic origins of the Mangbetu people. The face exudes an expression of profound authority and inner depth. The arms are held slightly away from the body, emphasising the attributes of leadership, whilst the male genitalia are clearly highlighted to evoke the chief’s vigour, lineage and power. The fingernails and toenails have been treated with particular care. Provenance: Pierre Redouin Collection. Description: Unlike many neighbouring ethnic groups, where art serves a ritual or religious function, Mangbetu art is first and foremost a court art intended to glorify power and beauty. The Mangbetu did not use masks in their tradition, favouring statuary and the ornamentation of objects instead.
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About the sale The Breath of the Spirits: The Collection of Pierre Redouin and Others
Auction location
Auction time 09/24/2026 at 2:30 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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