LULUA

Personal Guardian Figure

Powerful and rather large sculpture. Sublime and richly endowed with magnificent exaggerated scarification and body features typical of Lulua. Strong traces of use and a fantastic patina complete this magnificent piece.

Protective figures like this one have always been among the most important works of the Lulua. The vast majority of them date from the period after 1875. The functions of the figures called lupfingu or mbulenga were manifold. They provided for the general well-being, beauty or child blessing. Others, much larger figures, accompanied the lulua during warlike conflicts.

DRC , 34 cm
Early 20th century | Acquired in 1950s by Lore Kegel in Kasai area | published in
Schaedler “Lexikon Afrikanische Kunst und Kultur”, 1994 & “Götter, Geister, Ahnen”, 1992 | exhibited at
Villa Stuck, Munich, 1992 & Neue Hofburg, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, 1994 | Wood

A second figure from the hand of the same carver is part of the exhibition “Unrevealed Art” of the Museum Tervuren, Brussels.

MARKET DEBUT: 2023