Ancestral Fetish - Songye - 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
DR Congo
Songyé
Wood
Height: 280mm
Width: 75mm
Depth: 95mm
During the 16th century, the Songyé migrated from the Shaba region (Congo) and settled along the left bank of the Lualaba River, on a plateau covered with savannas and forests. Divided into numerous subgroups, the Songyé are governed by a central chief, the yakitengé, whose role requires that he not show strong emotions, have no physical contact with villagers, and not drink in public. Unlike their neighbors, Songyé society is patriarchal. Agriculture is the main economic activity.
The most well-known Songyé mask type is worn by members of the secret society Bwadi Bwa Kifwébé, called Kifwébé, which can be translated as mask in the Songyé dialect. This mask type has the face covered with incised linear scarifications and features a rectangular mouth, an elongated nose and globular eyes. It can be masculine, with a central crest, or feminine if the hairstyle is smooth. The height of the crest indicates the power of the mask bearer. During initiations, circumcisions and funerals, a dancer entirely wrapped in plant fibers appears. The female mask bearer moved with gentle, controlled movements intended to enhance women’s fertility. The male mask bearer adopted an aggressive and unpredictable demeanor intended to encourage social conformity. Representations of Kifwébé masks also appear on objects related to the secret society, for example on shields.
Songyé statues are numerous. Usually masculine, they stand on a circular base, have an elongated torso and hands resting on the abdomen. Their large head features a square or pointed chin, a partially open mouth and a triangular nose. Sometimes these statues are suspended for apotropaic purposes inside houses, using iron hooks passed under the arms. The large fetishes, meant to protect the communities, were kept in small huts, while smaller fetishes were reserved for individual use and protected against illness and death. Manipulations of these fetishes often took place during the new moon phases.
The Songyé carved many objects: metal axe, stools, neck rests, bracelets and small adzes.
Packages are sent Monday through Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in France within 1 to 3 days by Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the entire European Union.
Delivery in the rest of Europe and worldwide by Colissimo International.
We speak English
Mask african art Afrikanische Maskenkunst arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane
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 TranslateDR Congo
Songyé
Wood
Height: 280mm
Width: 75mm
Depth: 95mm
During the 16th century, the Songyé migrated from the Shaba region (Congo) and settled along the left bank of the Lualaba River, on a plateau covered with savannas and forests. Divided into numerous subgroups, the Songyé are governed by a central chief, the yakitengé, whose role requires that he not show strong emotions, have no physical contact with villagers, and not drink in public. Unlike their neighbors, Songyé society is patriarchal. Agriculture is the main economic activity.
The most well-known Songyé mask type is worn by members of the secret society Bwadi Bwa Kifwébé, called Kifwébé, which can be translated as mask in the Songyé dialect. This mask type has the face covered with incised linear scarifications and features a rectangular mouth, an elongated nose and globular eyes. It can be masculine, with a central crest, or feminine if the hairstyle is smooth. The height of the crest indicates the power of the mask bearer. During initiations, circumcisions and funerals, a dancer entirely wrapped in plant fibers appears. The female mask bearer moved with gentle, controlled movements intended to enhance women’s fertility. The male mask bearer adopted an aggressive and unpredictable demeanor intended to encourage social conformity. Representations of Kifwébé masks also appear on objects related to the secret society, for example on shields.
Songyé statues are numerous. Usually masculine, they stand on a circular base, have an elongated torso and hands resting on the abdomen. Their large head features a square or pointed chin, a partially open mouth and a triangular nose. Sometimes these statues are suspended for apotropaic purposes inside houses, using iron hooks passed under the arms. The large fetishes, meant to protect the communities, were kept in small huts, while smaller fetishes were reserved for individual use and protected against illness and death. Manipulations of these fetishes often took place during the new moon phases.
The Songyé carved many objects: metal axe, stools, neck rests, bracelets and small adzes.
Packages are sent Monday through Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in France within 1 to 3 days by Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the entire European Union.
Delivery in the rest of Europe and worldwide by Colissimo International.
We speak English
Mask african art Afrikanische Maskenkunst arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane
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
Songye
Country of Origin
DR Congo
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Sold by
