MANGBETU
MANGBETU
‘Beli’ ancestral statue
20th century.Height: 51 cm.Medium-weight wood, with a light, slightly amber-coloured patina (honey-coloured).This statuette, depicting an ancestor of the Nebeli society, embodies all the hallmarks of Mangbetu aesthetics:– Cranial deformation (lipa-ko) elongates the head towards the back. In reality, infants’ skulls were bound with raffia cords to achieve this shape, a sign of intelligence and social distinction.- The flared headdress worn by men, which accentuates the elongation of the skull.- The body is adorned with traditional, complex geometric scarifications (lines and curves).The face of this refined statuette bears distinctive scarifications with dark pigmentation. The nose, with its resemblance to that of the pharaohs of ancient Egypt, here evokes the supposed Nilotic origins of the Mangbetu people.The face exudes an expression of profound authority and inner depth. The arms are slightly raised from the body, emphasising the attributes of leadership, whilst the male genitalia are clearly highlighted to evoke the chief’s vigour, lineage and power. The fingernails and toenails have been treated with particular care.
MANGBETU
‘Beli’ ancestral statue
20th century.Height: 51 cm.Medium-weight wood, with a light, slightly amber-coloured patina (honey-coloured).This statuette, depicting an ancestor of the Nebeli society, embodies all the hallmarks of Mangbetu aesthetics:– Cranial deformation (lipa-ko) elongates the head towards the back. In reality, infants’ skulls were bound with raffia cords to achieve this shape, a sign of intelligence and social distinction.- The flared headdress worn by men, which accentuates the elongation of the skull.- The body is adorned with traditional, complex geometric scarifications (lines and curves).The face of this refined statuette bears distinctive scarifications with dark pigmentation. The nose, with its resemblance to that of the pharaohs of ancient Egypt, here evokes the supposed Nilotic origins of the Mangbetu people.The face exudes an expression of profound authority and inner depth. The arms are slightly raised from the body, emphasising the attributes of leadership, whilst the male genitalia are clearly highlighted to evoke the chief’s vigour, lineage and power. The fingernails and toenails have been treated with particular care.
