- 105
Teke Power Figure, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Estimate
6,000 - 9,000 USD
bidding is closed
Description
- wood
- Height: 7 3/8 inches (18.7 cm)
Provenance
Bruno Frey, Arnay-le-Duc
Nicole and John Dintenfass, New York, acquired from he above in the early 1990s
Nicole and John Dintenfass, New York, acquired from he above in the early 1990s
Condition
Good condition for an object of this type and age. Fronts of both feet cracked; front of proper left foot is glued back,front of proper right foot lacking. Chip to proper left ear. Marks, nicks, scratches, abrasions, small chips and cracks consistent with age and use. Permanently fixed to modern base with a pin embedded in proper left foot.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
Catalogue Note
LaGamma (2007: 304) notes: "In Teke society the ikwii, or shades of the death, warded off calamities perpetrated by witches. The father of a family invoked the ikwii of his father, mother, and sometimes his mother's brother on behalf of his own children and wives. A shrine to one's deceased family members featured reliquary figures of some of those individuals (buti) along with other items [...].
The variety of Teke sculptural invention is expressed in the many variations of geometric shapes used to represent the forms and features of the human body in such ancestor figures. In the present figure, a particularly interesting attribute is the rectangular excavated void above the lips, which forms a kind of hollow mustache. For a figure from the collection of the sculptor Chaim Gross with a similar treatment of these facial features, see Lehuard (1996: 285, fig. 20.1.1).