Description : Power figure mvunzi add to watchlistHolo, D. R. Kongo, Malange Province wood, reddish brown patina, encrusted in some areas, traces of black paint, without feet and short legs rising from a round, vaulted base, supporting a pear-shaped trunk with bulging abdomen and narrow shoulders, the arms emerging from the back, carved close to the body, with both hands up to the chin, a strong neck with accentuated Adam's apple supporting a head with triangular facial plane and cap-like coiffure, linear incised tattoos on the cheeks, a horn containing empowering materials suspended around the neck, small opening at the navel and on top of the head, on block-like base, only few is known about the use of Holo objects. The present figure is supposed to be a power figure called mvunzi, who should protect humans against certain evil spirits. Basically they belong to the main fortuneteller, who employs them in cases of sickness, for theft or for the hunt. In many cases, for example with theft, a mvunzi possesses not nly a protective function, but also an offensive character by acting against the evil spirit and imposing on it an even greater evil. A. P. Bourgois has identified this figure as coming from the Holo heartland, though it shares traits with Suku sculpture. The hieratic treatment of the face is, however, clearly Holo style. H: 27 cm, (4860/003) Provenance William Bertrand Yann Ferrandin, Paris, France Published in Bonhams New York, Fine African and Oceanic Art, 13 November 2007, lot 2212 GVR Archives Registration No. 0085521 Literature Neyt, Francois, Die Kunst der Holo, München 1982, p. 70 f, ill. 29 ff.
Price: 0.00 USDIt's free to register now to view!
Estimate (low-high) : 3600 EUR-5500 EURIt's free to register now to view!
