Statuette - Bakongo - DR Congo (No reserve price)

Bakongo statuary, produced in the Kongo cultural area (present‑day Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, and the Republic of the Congo), is distinguished by the depth of its symbolic thought and its close connection with cosmological conceptions. Among the most significant figures is the seated figure, legs crossed, resting on a turtle—a rare iconography highly charged with meaning.

This hieratic posture evokes a controlled and thoughtful authority, often associated with figures of sages, leaders, or custodians of ritual knowledge. The turtle, a central animal in Kongo symbolism, is seen as an ancient, patient, and enduring being, capable of moving between worlds: it connotes longevity, stability, and deep knowledge, but also mediation between the visible and the invisible. The figure who rises above it thus asserts intellectual and spiritual dominion rather than physical domination.

Formally, these sculptures display a balanced composition, a controlled geometrization of volumes, and particular attention given to the head, the seat of thought. Kept in major museum collections and presented by international auction houses, these works are today recognized as major expressions of Bakongo statuary, where authority, wisdom, and cosmology come together.


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.

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