Statue of a dignitary - Kuba - DR Congo

- Private collection inherited from a Frenchman who traveled in Central Africa in the 1960s-70s. Having participated in public health missions in remote villages, André was thus sensitized to the arts of the peoples, their forms and uses. As was often customary, the services rendered were thanked with gifts upon departure, including masks, statues and other objects charged with meaning. The collection of several dozen pieces was also completed by on-site purchases in Bujumbura in particular as well as in France subsequently.

- The Kuba ndop-type statue, originating from the current Democratic Republic of the Congo, is an emblematic royal effigy of the Kuba kingdom. Carved in wood, it depicts a king seated, legs crossed on a square base, in a frontal and solemn posture. The face, idealized and serene, does not seek realism but expresses stability and the continuity of power. The balanced proportions, smooth surfaces and care given to the details reflect the mastery of Kuba sculptors.

Each ndop was associated with a specific sovereign, identifiable thanks to a personal emblem sculpted near the figure. These statues were not mere portraits: they embodied the spirit of the king and his sacred function. Kept within the court, they played an important ritual role, notably during ceremonies related to dynastic memory. The ndop thus symbolizes political authority, legitimacy and the permanence of the kingdom.

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Based in Belgium, our house of expertise and sale specializes in African and ethnographic art. A reference seller on Catawiki for more than 8 years, we enjoy a solid reputation and a history of several hundred sales with an almost 100% satisfaction rate.

We regularly assist with liquidations, successions and dispersals of collections, in collaboration with private individuals and families in Belgium and in neighboring countries. Our approach is rigorous, transparent and accessible, with many sales offered without reserve prices.

Some pieces that have passed through our hands have joined international private collections and, for some, museum institutions.

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