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MILLON
150
-
Friction Oracle with a beautiful head and coffee bean eyes
W…
See original version (French)
150
-
Friction Oracle with a beautiful head and coffee bean eyes
W…
See original version (French)
Estimate €300 - €400
Voluntary lot
Description
Friction Oracle
with a beautiful head and coffee bean eyes
Wood, very old brown and russet patina, marks of use
Luba, Democratic Republic of Congo
12.5 × 3 × 6 cm
Luba friction oracles played an important role in divination practices relating to collective decisions, protection and the interpretation of imbalances affecting the lineage. Their repeated handling during consultations explains the age-old wear visible on some surviving examples. Sculptors paid particular attention to the face, considered to be the seat of perception and mediation between the consulter and invisible forces.
This oracle stands out for the quality of its finely sculpted head, framed by plaits arranged in an arc. The half-closed coffee-bean eyes, the delicate modelling of the face and the depth of the patina give this work an interiorised expression and a particularly calming presence. The sobriety of the volumes and the finesse of the construction further enhance its graphic power.
Provenance :
Collected in Katanga (Belgian Congo) between 1952 and 1970 by Charles Mahauden, a Belgian colonial administrator nicknamed Kisongokimo by the Grand Chief of the Baluba.
Author of : Mahauden, Charles, Kisongokimo - Chasse et magie chez les Balubas, Paris, Flammarion, coll. "L'Aventure vécue", 1965, 252 p.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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