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Description
MONTOL
Ancestor
20th century.
Height: 42 cm.
Heavy wood covered with a thick, smoky black patina, the result of being kept safe from insects.
A long beard attests to the wisdom of the ancestor, whose arms hang down alongside his body in a somewhat rigid posture. Pieces of fabric serve as a belt, loincloth and headdress.
Provenance:
Pierre Redouin Collection.
Description:
This type of ancestral figure, with its hieratic appearance, is closely linked to the Komtin secret society, an institution that governs the spiritual and medical life of the ethnic group. Our specimen is coated with a thick, dark patina, suggesting the many uses to which it has been put.
These representations were mainly used to cure illnesses. The diviner or healer would use the statue as an intermediary to extract the evil from the patient. They also enabled contact to be made with the spirits of ancestors to seek advice on family or agricultural matters. Belonging to members of the Komtin society, this type of statuette was kept in personal shrines.
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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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