hairpin - Mbole - DR Congo
02
days
13
hours
04
minutes
38
seconds
Current bid
€ 2
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Julien Gauthier
With almost a decade of experience bridging science, museum curation, and traditional blacksmithing, Julien has developed a unique expertise in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 250 - € 300
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Mbole hair pin, a figurative wooden hairpin from the Democratic Republic of the Congo dating to the mid-20th century, with private collection provenance, height 22 cm, width 1 cm, depth 1 cm, weight 1 g, in excellent condition.
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Description from the seller
Figurative hairpin – Mbole – Democratic Republic of the Congo
A jewel carved with power, an intimate ornament, a marker of social status, and ancestral symbolism.
This rare Mbole hairpin, carved from a dense wood with a dark brown patina, belongs to a discreet and sought-after corpus of Central African miniature statuary. More than just a hair accessory, this type of object served as a marker of social identity, sometimes linked to maturity, prestige, or a particular function.
The top section is adorned with a stylized anthropomorphic figure, with a compact body, arms pressed along the torso, topped by an elaborate hairstyle, a recurring element of mbole iconography. The deliberate stylization of the volumes does not exclude precision or balance: on the contrary, it expresses the sculptor's ability to condense meaning and authority into a reduced form.
Among the Mbole, these pins were worn mainly by women, but could also take on a symbolic or protective dimension, associated with the representation of the ancestor, the lineage, or the social ideal. The long tapered shaft, carefully crafted, ensured a secure hold in the hairstyle while emphasizing the verticality and the elegance of the object.
Authentic, complete, ancient Mbole figurative pins, with an undisturbed patina, are today particularly rare on the market. They vividly illustrate the richness of Mbole sculpture, capable of uniting function, aesthetics, and symbolic meaning in an everyday object with a profoundly cultural reach.
Introduction to our expertise firm
Based in Belgium, our appraisal and sales house specializes in African and ethnographic art. A leading seller on Catawiki for over 8 years, we enjoy a solid reputation and a track record of several hundred sales with a customer satisfaction rate close to 100%.
We regularly assist with liquidations, estates, and dispersals of collections, in collaboration with individuals and families in Belgium and neighboring countries. Our approach is designed to be rigorous, transparent and accessible, with sales often offered without a reserve price.
Some pieces that have passed through our hands have joined international private collections and, for some, museum institutions.
Shipping insured within 24 hours, with careful packaging, insurance, and tracking.
Contact 7 days a week: we remain available for any questions or requests for additional information.
Figurative hairpin – Mbole – Democratic Republic of the Congo
A jewel carved with power, an intimate ornament, a marker of social status, and ancestral symbolism.
This rare Mbole hairpin, carved from a dense wood with a dark brown patina, belongs to a discreet and sought-after corpus of Central African miniature statuary. More than just a hair accessory, this type of object served as a marker of social identity, sometimes linked to maturity, prestige, or a particular function.
The top section is adorned with a stylized anthropomorphic figure, with a compact body, arms pressed along the torso, topped by an elaborate hairstyle, a recurring element of mbole iconography. The deliberate stylization of the volumes does not exclude precision or balance: on the contrary, it expresses the sculptor's ability to condense meaning and authority into a reduced form.
Among the Mbole, these pins were worn mainly by women, but could also take on a symbolic or protective dimension, associated with the representation of the ancestor, the lineage, or the social ideal. The long tapered shaft, carefully crafted, ensured a secure hold in the hairstyle while emphasizing the verticality and the elegance of the object.
Authentic, complete, ancient Mbole figurative pins, with an undisturbed patina, are today particularly rare on the market. They vividly illustrate the richness of Mbole sculpture, capable of uniting function, aesthetics, and symbolic meaning in an everyday object with a profoundly cultural reach.
Introduction to our expertise firm
Based in Belgium, our appraisal and sales house specializes in African and ethnographic art. A leading seller on Catawiki for over 8 years, we enjoy a solid reputation and a track record of several hundred sales with a customer satisfaction rate close to 100%.
We regularly assist with liquidations, estates, and dispersals of collections, in collaboration with individuals and families in Belgium and neighboring countries. Our approach is designed to be rigorous, transparent and accessible, with sales often offered without a reserve price.
Some pieces that have passed through our hands have joined international private collections and, for some, museum institutions.
Shipping insured within 24 hours, with careful packaging, insurance, and tracking.
Contact 7 days a week: we remain available for any questions or requests for additional information.
Details
Indigenous object name
hairpin
Ethnic group/ culture
Mbole
Country of Origin
DR Congo
Period
Mid 20th century
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Excellent condition
Height
22 cm
Width
1 cm
Depth
1 cm
Weight
1 g
Provenance
Private collection
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