Ancestral Fetish - Téké / Batéké - DR Congo
Opens 13 May
Starting bid
€ 1
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Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
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Description from the seller
Republic of the Congo
Teke
Wood and textiles
Height: 390 mm
Width: 95 mm
Depth: 95 mm
Teke protection statue from the Republic of the Congo (RDC).
Teke artists mainly created statues surrounded by fetish materials called bilongo that protect the Teke. Owners of these fetishes can detach the bilongo and integrate it into other statues that will be sold to neighboring families, leaving the original statue with a gaunt body.
The Teke live in a territory spanning the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) and Gabon. Teke masks are worn by members of the Kidamu society during the funerals of their chiefs or during weddings and other important ceremonies. These circular masks are divided horizontally by a band. Their surface is decorated with geometric motifs painted with colored pigments.
The statues created by Teke artists have shortened and slightly bent legs, an elongated torso framed by arms folded at right angles, and a large head bearing linear scarifications and a trapezoidal beard. Their height ranges from 15 to 80 cm. These Teke African fetishes can be used by an individual or a community.
Other statuettes, known as Itéo, symbolize the spirit of happiness. Characterized by a cone of white earth surrounding the body, they were carefully guarded by families. During hunts or expeditions, the Teke sometimes wear small anthropomorphic fetishes.
Teke African artists created neck supports, small axes (herminettes) and fly-swats decorated with human faces. These objects were used to assert the prestige of their owner, chief or notable. Large bronze necklaces decorated with geometric motifs indicated the status of their bearer.
Packages are sent from Monday to Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France by Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide by Colissimo international.
We speak english
Mask african art African mask art arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Statue of African statues art of African statues African mask art
Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano
Seller's Story
Passionate about World Arts and more specifically about African Art, we buy from collectors, former officials, military, health workers, public works staff who have worked in Africa and also in Côte d'Ivoire, from antique dealers and traders who roam across West Africa to find quality objects.
It is with pride that we present works that, beyond their power to beautify spaces, invite our collectors to resonate with the richness and depth of human expression through the most authentic art.
At Arts Ethniques Gallery, we have the privilege of offering our visitors an exclusive selection of artworks, all unique and original. Each piece presented is the outcome of a demanding artistic approach, driven by a singular vision and mastered craftsmanship, all elements that guarantee authenticity and value.
The works we offer are not industrial reproductions. They are individual creations, crafted with sensitivity and precision, each bearing its own story, identity and presence. Originality is the very foundation of our commitment to excellence. Thus, every mask and every statue in our collection is the subject of a rigorous selection, in order to preserve their rarity and singularity.
Acquiring a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery means owning a truly unique piece: a creation that embodies both talent, cultural memory and the expressive force of African art. It is also a lasting investment in a work whose artistic and emotional value transcends time.
We guarantee that every work leaving our gallery is an authentic piece, without replicas, bearing witness to the creativity, heritage and passion of the African artists who shaped them.
We invite you to participate in our gallery’s auctions with confidence. Each presented work is an original, unique and irreplaceable creation, selected with the greatest rigor to guarantee its authenticity and artistic value.
Whether you wish to enrich a personal collection or introduce an exceptional artwork into your space, Arts Ethniques Gallery offers a safe, transparent and professional setting to acquire remarkable pieces.
Art auctions are a privileged moment to discover rare works, capable of becoming the heart of a collection. Acquiring a work at our sales is not just buying an object: it is investing in a creation whose aesthetic value and cultural reach reinforce over time.
The pieces presented by Arts Ethniques Gallery testify not only to the talent and vision of the artists but also possess the ability to transform spaces and enrich the gaze of those who behold them.
Participating in our auctions is taking part in a singular experience, where the passion for art meets the rigors of collecting. Bidding on a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery goes beyond a simple transaction: it is a gesture of commitment and appreciation for art in its most authentic form.
We invite you to bid with passion and to join us in this adventure dedicated to discovery, transmission and celebration of art.
Perhaps your next heart piece is already waiting for you."
Translated by Google TranslateRepublic of the Congo
Teke
Wood and textiles
Height: 390 mm
Width: 95 mm
Depth: 95 mm
Teke protection statue from the Republic of the Congo (RDC).
Teke artists mainly created statues surrounded by fetish materials called bilongo that protect the Teke. Owners of these fetishes can detach the bilongo and integrate it into other statues that will be sold to neighboring families, leaving the original statue with a gaunt body.
The Teke live in a territory spanning the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) and Gabon. Teke masks are worn by members of the Kidamu society during the funerals of their chiefs or during weddings and other important ceremonies. These circular masks are divided horizontally by a band. Their surface is decorated with geometric motifs painted with colored pigments.
The statues created by Teke artists have shortened and slightly bent legs, an elongated torso framed by arms folded at right angles, and a large head bearing linear scarifications and a trapezoidal beard. Their height ranges from 15 to 80 cm. These Teke African fetishes can be used by an individual or a community.
Other statuettes, known as Itéo, symbolize the spirit of happiness. Characterized by a cone of white earth surrounding the body, they were carefully guarded by families. During hunts or expeditions, the Teke sometimes wear small anthropomorphic fetishes.
Teke African artists created neck supports, small axes (herminettes) and fly-swats decorated with human faces. These objects were used to assert the prestige of their owner, chief or notable. Large bronze necklaces decorated with geometric motifs indicated the status of their bearer.
Packages are sent from Monday to Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France by Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide by Colissimo international.
We speak english
Mask african art African mask art arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Statue of African statues art of African statues African mask art
Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano
Seller's Story
Passionate about World Arts and more specifically about African Art, we buy from collectors, former officials, military, health workers, public works staff who have worked in Africa and also in Côte d'Ivoire, from antique dealers and traders who roam across West Africa to find quality objects.
It is with pride that we present works that, beyond their power to beautify spaces, invite our collectors to resonate with the richness and depth of human expression through the most authentic art.
At Arts Ethniques Gallery, we have the privilege of offering our visitors an exclusive selection of artworks, all unique and original. Each piece presented is the outcome of a demanding artistic approach, driven by a singular vision and mastered craftsmanship, all elements that guarantee authenticity and value.
The works we offer are not industrial reproductions. They are individual creations, crafted with sensitivity and precision, each bearing its own story, identity and presence. Originality is the very foundation of our commitment to excellence. Thus, every mask and every statue in our collection is the subject of a rigorous selection, in order to preserve their rarity and singularity.
Acquiring a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery means owning a truly unique piece: a creation that embodies both talent, cultural memory and the expressive force of African art. It is also a lasting investment in a work whose artistic and emotional value transcends time.
We guarantee that every work leaving our gallery is an authentic piece, without replicas, bearing witness to the creativity, heritage and passion of the African artists who shaped them.
We invite you to participate in our gallery’s auctions with confidence. Each presented work is an original, unique and irreplaceable creation, selected with the greatest rigor to guarantee its authenticity and artistic value.
Whether you wish to enrich a personal collection or introduce an exceptional artwork into your space, Arts Ethniques Gallery offers a safe, transparent and professional setting to acquire remarkable pieces.
Art auctions are a privileged moment to discover rare works, capable of becoming the heart of a collection. Acquiring a work at our sales is not just buying an object: it is investing in a creation whose aesthetic value and cultural reach reinforce over time.
The pieces presented by Arts Ethniques Gallery testify not only to the talent and vision of the artists but also possess the ability to transform spaces and enrich the gaze of those who behold them.
Participating in our auctions is taking part in a singular experience, where the passion for art meets the rigors of collecting. Bidding on a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery goes beyond a simple transaction: it is a gesture of commitment and appreciation for art in its most authentic form.
We invite you to bid with passion and to join us in this adventure dedicated to discovery, transmission and celebration of art.
Perhaps your next heart piece is already waiting for you."
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Indigenous object name
Ancestral Fetish
Ethnic group/ culture
Téké / Batéké
Country of Origin
DR Congo
Material
Wood and fabrics
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Weight
0.62 kg
Sold by
