Lega / Gbanziri anthropomorphic fetish - Lot 115

Lega / Gbanziri anthropomorphic fetish Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly ZAIRE) - OUBANGUI Wood with brown patina, fabric, rope, beads - H. 25.5 cm Before 1945 Provenance: Private collection of a diplomat stationed in Zaire, then French private collection The GBANZIRI, like their neighbors MONZOMBE or NBAKA-MABO, are a modest population living along the banks of the Ubangi River, on either side of the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic, to the south and east of the bend in the river. This ethnically-rich region of the Ubangi has given African statuary many styles that have been interpenetrated throughout the equatorial region, in the Central African Republic, the Congo and as far south as Sudan. This exceptional and very rare fetish is presented standing on short, stocky lower limbs supporting a cylindrical trunk. The arms, represented by stumps, end in masks that convey an impression of strength. The concave face is divided by a long, thin, upward-stretched nose, which continues through the superciliary arches to form a heart-shaped face. The mouth is small and thin, and the almond-shaped eyes, incised into the shape of a coffee bean, contribute to its distinctive expressiveness. The various attributes - cowrie shell necklace, rope belt, cloth loincloth - reinforce its apotropaic power. The function of this figurine, as for almost all the populations of Ubangi, lies in consultation and initiation. Bibliography: Jan-Lodewijk GROOTAERS: Ubangi: Art et Cultures au cœur de l'Afrique - Editions Actes Sud - 2007.