Rare Mangbetu figure - Wood - "beli" - Mangbetu - Congo

Provenance:
private French collection,
private collection in the Netherlands,
private collection of Dir. Gerhard Vesely, Ethnogalerie Museum Schmiding
Mangbetu figures are rare and can generally be regarded as incarnations of ancestors. These figures were called ‘beli’ by older people and according to them, were used in hidden places by the secret ‘nebeli’ society. The style of figure is characterised by an elongated skull, the ideal of beauty of Mangbetu aristocracy. The head of small children was compressed with thin cords of raffia, thus making them deformed. The Mangbetu once had a thriving kingdom. Their art is therefore court-oriented and was the reserve of solely the ruling class. It was a reflection of the wealth and prestige of the owners and was first and foremost limited to the design and decoration of objects used on a daily basis and cult objects. Figures are therefore rare.

Supplied with a certificate of authenticity and named provenance!!!