African Arts Gallery

Figurative panel Pende of Kasai (N° 19325)

In the Kasai, the Pende decorate the houses of wooden lintels such as this one, on which a female figure has been carved in high relief. In a realistic style, she wears jewelry, pearl necklaces accessorized with feline teeth. The surface of the lintel is carefully decorated in high relief with an arrangement of triangles, reminiscent of the lozenge decoration of kuban sculptures. Matte reddish-brown patina. Small erosions.
The Western Pende live on the banks of the Kwilu, while the Easterners settled on the banks of the Kasai downstream from Tshikapa. The influences of the neighboring ethnic groups, Mbla, Suku, Wongo, Leele, Kuba and Salempasu have been imprinted on their large sculpture of tribal art. Within this diversity the Mbuya masks, realistic, produced every ten years, have a festive function, and embody different characters, including the chief, the diviner and his wife, the prostitute, the possessed, etc.... The masks of initiation and those of power, the minganji, represent the ancestors and are produced successively during the same ceremonies, agricultural festivals, initiation and circumcision rituals mukanda, enthronement of the chief. Governed by heads of families, the d jogo, with the priestly function, the Pende have sculptures intended to come into contact with the ancestors, to whom sacrifices are offered. They are stored in a room or house adjoining the chief's house.  

 


This item is sold with its certificate of authenticity

Estimated shipping cost

Origin	ex-collection suisse
Ethny	Pende
Country	rdc ex zaire
Material(s)	wood, perles, dent animale
Height	81
Width	23
Weight	2.55 Kg
Estimated dating	2ème halfxx°

You could also be interested by these items