Sale 214 Lot 487

CONGOLESE KUYU KEBE-KEBE SOCIETY STATUE This Kuyu statue from the Republic of the Congo is a vibrant example of the region's unique anthropomorphic sculptural style, often associated with the secret Kebe-Kebe society. Carved from wood and saturated with a bold red camwood pigment, the figure is distinguished by its highly detailed head, which features a rounded, helmet-like coiffure topped with a small secondary human head and adorned with three prominent circular discs on the forehead. The face displays the characteristic Kuyu aesthetic of wide, almond-shaped eyes and an open mouth revealing serrated teeth, while the torso is decorated with intricate, raised scarification patterns that signify clan identity and social status. Traditionally, such figures—or the related head-only crests—were used in energetic, spiraling dances during initiation ceremonies to represent ancestral spirits and the primordial serpent, Ebongo, emphasizing the community's mythological origins and the cyclical nature of life. Height: 22 inches
$150-200