Skip to main content
Items Similar to Lightwood Male Statue Snake Vertebrae Belt and Necklace, Mangbetu People, DRC
African Gabon 20th Century Carved Wood Ambete Reliquary Figure
African Gabon 20th Century Carved Wood Ambete Reliquary Figure
African Ivory Coast 20th Century Hand Carved Dan Fertility Figure
African Ivory Coast 20th Century Hand Carved Dan Fertility Figure
African Songye 2-Headed Janus Figure, Tribal Art from D.R. Congo
African Songye 2-Headed Janus Figure, Tribal Art from D.R. Congo
African Gabon 20th Century Carved Wood Fang Male Reliquary Guardian Figure
African Gabon 20th Century Carved Wood Fang Male Reliquary Guardian Figure
Baule Spirit Spouse Sculpture, Carved Wood, Ivory Coast, 20th Century
Baule Spirit Spouse Sculpture, Carved Wood, Ivory Coast, 20th Century
Gabonese Tribal Bellows, Hand-Carved Bone, 20th Century Design
Gabonese Tribal Bellows, Hand-Carved Bone, 20th Century Design
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 15

Lightwood Male Statue Snake Vertebrae Belt and Necklace, Mangbetu People, DRC

$9,688.40
£7,149.09
€9,922VAT Included
CA$13,433.44
A$13,644.27
CHF 7,862.80
MX$164,734.34
NOK 91,333.86
SEK 92,095.90
DKK 62,523.64

About the Item

The Mangbetu people once reigned over a flourishing kingdom in northeastern Congo. Hence their traditional art flourished around the court. Their very rare figural sculptures are reminders of important ancestors of the ruling aristocracy. They used to belong to secret societies and were kept in secret places.The Mangbetu nobility had a special ideal of beauty, which involved the artificial deformation of the occipital bone, resulting in an ‘elongated’ skull. For this purpose, children’s heads were tightly wrapped with raffia strings.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 24.02 in (61 cm)Width: 5.52 in (14 cm)Depth: 5.52 in (14 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Softwood,Hand-Carved
  • Place of Origin:
    Congo, Democratic Republic of the
  • Period:
    Early 20th Century
  • Date of Manufacture:
    -
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses.
  • Seller Location:
    Leuven , BE
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 4271stDibs: LU3301148007772

More From This Seller

View All
Jukun Commemorative Royal Ancestor Figure, Jukun People, Northeastern Nigeria.

Jukun Commemorative Royal Ancestor Figure, Jukun People, Northeastern Nigeria.

Jukun Commemorative Royal Ancestor Figure, Jukun People, Northeastern Nigeria.

Located in Leuven , BE

Jukun Commemorative Royal Ancestor Figure, Jukun People, Northeastern Nigeria. Provenance Martial bronsin 2009 Native 2012 - Martin Lagrain AHDRC ao-0096159-001,002,003 The figure is depicted standing, bearded, with a tribal skull...

Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Ibo hardwood Ikenga Altar Statue Ibo People Nigeria

Ibo hardwood Ikenga Altar Statue Ibo People Nigeria

Ibo hardwood Ikenga Altar Statue Ibo People Nigeria

Located in Leuven , BE

Ibo hardwood Ikenga Altar Statue documented Van Lier provenance,Ibo People, Nigeria. before 1959 Kunsthandel Van Lier (documented)-1959 Volkskundig museu...

Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Ibibio Anthropomorphic Standing Male Janus Figure, Nigeria

Ibibio Anthropomorphic Standing Male Janus Figure, Nigeria

Ibibio Anthropomorphic Standing Male Janus Figure, Nigeria

Located in Leuven , BE

This elaborate Janus statue is a rare example of an Ibibio free-standing figure to recall a well-defined ancestor in what seems a European outfit .The Ibibios lend supernatural power...

Category

20th Century Congolese Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Dan People, Ivory Coast, Female Figure "Lu Me"

Dan People, Ivory Coast, Female Figure "Lu Me"

Dan People, Ivory Coast, Female Figure "Lu Me"

Located in Leuven , BE

In Dan society, sculptures of women are prestigious objects that reflect positively both on their owners' and their subjects' reputations. Among the most costly of Dan expressive for...

Category

Vintage 1930s Ivorian Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Carved Twin figure Ibeji Yoruba People, Nigeria

Carved Twin figure Ibeji Yoruba People, Nigeria

Carved Twin figure Ibeji Yoruba People, Nigeria

Located in Leuven , BE

A finely carved significant Yoruba Male Ibeji figure with a tall headdress, expressive eyes, original bead belt and heavy wear and polish from native use. Areas of encrusted camwood ...

Category

20th Century Nigerian Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

You May Also Like

Gabonese Tribal Reliquary Figure, Hand-Carved Bone Sculpture

Gabonese Tribal Reliquary Figure, Hand-Carved Bone Sculpture

Gabonese Tribal Reliquary Figure, Hand-Carved Bone Sculpture

Located in Queens, NY

Gabonese late 20th c. reliquary figure of the Ambete people, hand carved and pigmented in red and white, the depicted figure has a broad sloping brow, a mouth agape and standing in a...

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bone

African Gabon 20th Century Carved Wood Fang Male Reliquary Guardian Figure

African Gabon 20th Century Carved Wood Fang Male Reliquary Guardian Figure

African Gabon 20th Century Carved Wood Fang Male Reliquary Guardian Figure

Located in Queens, NY

African Gabon 20th Century carved wood Fang male reliquary guardian figure representing the Byeri / Bieri (the ancestor), seated on a post and holding a decorated box, the figure fea...

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Yoruba Male Figure, an Ibeji or Twin Figure, Nigeria, Africa, Weathered, Beads

Yoruba Male Figure, an Ibeji or Twin Figure, Nigeria, Africa, Weathered, Beads

Yoruba Male Figure, an Ibeji or Twin Figure, Nigeria, Africa, Weathered, Beads

Located in Point Richmond, CA

Yoruba weathered and eroded old male figure, an Ibeji or twin figure, Nigeria, Africa, well loved heavy patina and use. Strong face with projecting eyes. A finely carved Yoruba male...

Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

African Gabon 20th Century Carved Wood Ambete Reliquary Figure

African Gabon 20th Century Carved Wood Ambete Reliquary Figure

African Gabon 20th Century Carved Wood Ambete Reliquary Figure

Located in Queens, NY

African Gabon 20th Century carved wood Ambete reliquary figure features an oval head with inlaid cowrie shell eyes, a fiber necklace, forward thrust shoulders with bent arms, rope be...

Category

20th Century African Tribal Figurative Sculptures

African Fang Reliquary Wood Figurative Statue Gabon

African Fang Reliquary Wood Figurative Statue Gabon

African Fang Reliquary Wood Figurative Statue Gabon

Located in Atlanta, GA

Carved out of a single block of wood, this Gabon Fang male reliquary statue of stylized proportion impresses the viewers with a robust stance and meditative expression. Traditionally...

Category

Mid-20th Century Gabonese Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Copper