This wooden statue was hand-carved in the Teke style. The statue portrays a figure in a squatted position (rare among the corpus of Teke statues) with a protruding belly. The figure measures 20 inches tall and weighs 3.5 pounds. There is some cracking and scuffing throughout and the piece may be off balance at times, you will want to place it on a flat surface. Please inspect photos.
Sale!
Intriguing Teke Style Wooden Statue 20″ – DRC – African Art
Original price was: $195.00.$97.50Current price is: $97.50.
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| Type of Object | Figure, statue |
|---|---|
| Country of Origin | DR Congo |
| Ethnicity | Teke |
| Material | Wood, Pigment |
| Approximate Age | Unknown |
| Height (Inches) | 20" |
| Width | 5" |
| Depth (Inches) | 5" |
| Weight (Pounds) | 3.5 lbs |
| Overall Condition | Some cracking, scuffing and wear and tear. Statue is off balance at times. |
Tribe Information
About the Teke People
“The Teke people settled in a territory lying across the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) and Gabon. During the 15th century, they were integrated into the Tio kingdom, but attained independence in the 17th century. Today, they live in villages led by a clan elder known as the Mfumu, who answers to a hereditary land-chief called Mfumu na tzee. Their economy is mainly based on farming maize, millet and tobacco, but the Teke are also skilled fishermen and traders. They believe in a supreme God, Nzambi, whose favours can be objtained with the help of tutelary spirits. Teke artists carved figures predominantly surrounded by fetish material, known as Bilongo. These figures protect and assist the Teke and, if a fetish figure successfully demonstrates its power, its owner may detach its Bilongo, break it into several pieces and insert fragments into other figures. He will then sell the new figures to neighbouring families, leaving the original statue with an emaciated body.”