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MILLON
155
-
Headrest with quadrangular base and incised decoration
Wood,…
See original version (French)
155
-
Headrest with quadrangular base and incised decoration
Wood,…
See original version (French)
Estimate €300 - €500
Voluntary lot
Description
Headrest
with quadrangular base and incised decoration
Wood, old russet and brown patina, marks of use
Luba, Democratic Republic of Congo
14.5 × 13 × 9.5 cm
Luba neck rests were used to preserve elaborate headdresses, and also had an important symbolic function linked to prestige, memory and divinatory practices. Some also accompanied chiefs and dignitaries in rituals linked to the ancestors and the world of oracles.
This piece is characterised by its quadrangular base, punctuated by incised motifs forming a particularly well-balanced geometric decoration. The sobriety of the lines, the quality of the patina and the architectural tension of the volumes give this object a refined sculptural presence and a strong graphic quality.
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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