Fertility Fetish - Kongo / Bakongo - DR Congo
06
days
17
hours
07
minutes
16
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 200 - € 250
No bids placed
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Description from the seller
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)\nKongo\nWood, patina of use.\nHeight: 390 mm + base 55 mm\nWidth: 110 mm\nDepth: 90 mm\n\nKongo-origin statuette (more precisely from the Yombe or Woyo sub-group, in the region of the Congo River delta).\n\nHere are the typical elements that confirm its origin and use:\n\n1. Kongo / Yombe stylistic markers\nSeveral characteristic clues do not lie:\n\nThe headdress (Mpu): This tall rounded cap or mitre-shaped crown represents the traditional raffia-fibre woven headdress, worn exclusively by clan chiefs or high-ranking women.\n\nThe gaze and inlaid eyes: The white eyes, often originally made with mirror shards, glass, or imported porcelain, are a major signature of Kongo art. They symbolize the figure’s ability to see beyond the visible world and to communicate with the realm of the dead (Mpemba).\n\nThe open mouth and carved teeth: One can discern the visible dentition through the parted lips, a common aesthetic and ritual practice in this region.\n\nThe kneeling posture: Unlike Baoulé statues which are almost always standing, the kneeling (or cross-legged) posture on a square pedestal is very common among the Kongo. It is an attitude of reverence, devotion, and dignity.\n\nThe geometric scarifications: The raised patterns on the shoulders and upper back are typical of Yombe women’s body adornments.\n\n2. Sacred use and function\nIn Kongo culture, such a feminine statuette serves an important ritual function:\n\nAncestor and fertility worship: These pieces (sometimes close to the maternity figures known as Pfemba, even though the latter does not bear a child) embody the founding female ancestor of the lineage. Since Kongo society is matrilineal, the woman is the pillar of transmitting power and life.\n\nSpiritual intermediary for the Nganga: This statue served as a receptacle or anchor point for spirits. It was used by the diviner-healer (the Nganga) during rituals aimed at healing fertility problems, protecting the community, or legitimating the power of a clan leader.\n\nColis are sent from Monday to Saturday with insurance and a tracking number. \nDelivery in 1 to 3 days in France via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.\nDelivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide via Colissimo international.\n\nWe speak english\n\nMask African art Afrikanische Maskenkunst arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane\nstatu e african art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afrikanische Maskenkunst\nMáscara 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 TranslateDemocratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)\nKongo\nWood, patina of use.\nHeight: 390 mm + base 55 mm\nWidth: 110 mm\nDepth: 90 mm\n\nKongo-origin statuette (more precisely from the Yombe or Woyo sub-group, in the region of the Congo River delta).\n\nHere are the typical elements that confirm its origin and use:\n\n1. Kongo / Yombe stylistic markers\nSeveral characteristic clues do not lie:\n\nThe headdress (Mpu): This tall rounded cap or mitre-shaped crown represents the traditional raffia-fibre woven headdress, worn exclusively by clan chiefs or high-ranking women.\n\nThe gaze and inlaid eyes: The white eyes, often originally made with mirror shards, glass, or imported porcelain, are a major signature of Kongo art. They symbolize the figure’s ability to see beyond the visible world and to communicate with the realm of the dead (Mpemba).\n\nThe open mouth and carved teeth: One can discern the visible dentition through the parted lips, a common aesthetic and ritual practice in this region.\n\nThe kneeling posture: Unlike Baoulé statues which are almost always standing, the kneeling (or cross-legged) posture on a square pedestal is very common among the Kongo. It is an attitude of reverence, devotion, and dignity.\n\nThe geometric scarifications: The raised patterns on the shoulders and upper back are typical of Yombe women’s body adornments.\n\n2. Sacred use and function\nIn Kongo culture, such a feminine statuette serves an important ritual function:\n\nAncestor and fertility worship: These pieces (sometimes close to the maternity figures known as Pfemba, even though the latter does not bear a child) embody the founding female ancestor of the lineage. Since Kongo society is matrilineal, the woman is the pillar of transmitting power and life.\n\nSpiritual intermediary for the Nganga: This statue served as a receptacle or anchor point for spirits. It was used by the diviner-healer (the Nganga) during rituals aimed at healing fertility problems, protecting the community, or legitimating the power of a clan leader.\n\nColis are sent from Monday to Saturday with insurance and a tracking number. \nDelivery in 1 to 3 days in France via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.\nDelivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide via Colissimo international.\n\nWe speak english\n\nMask African art Afrikanische Maskenkunst arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane\nstatu e african art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afrikanische Maskenkunst\nMáscara 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
Fertility Fetish
Ethnic group/ culture
Kongo / Bakongo
Country of Origin
DR Congo
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
Yes
Condition
Good condition
Sold by
