LEGA IVORY ALTER MATERNITY FIGURE. Carved to depict woman and child - 11 1/4 in. high. Estimate $2,600-3,000
NOTE: The men and women in Lega culture enter the centuries-old Bwami society to learn skills and wisdom for life that are taught to initiate through the art. The elegantly carved pieces are passed down through the generations and kept private by the members of the many levels of the organization. From the insignia of membership and found objects used in the early stages of initiation, to zoomorphic figures and figural sculptures that reflect age and wisdom, Bwami is a life-long path. It teaches members of Lega society that moral goodness begets beauty and that knowledge is power. The proverbs associated with the works may vary according to the context in which they are used, and often the sculptures represent metaphors for life lessons.
