Ndengese (Dengese) Male Figure Congo African Art 26 Inch WAS $77. 00
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:7151 | Maker: Ndengese Artisan - Africa |
| Original/Reproduction: Original | Material: Wood |
TitleNdengese (Dengese) Male Figure Congo African Art 26 InchType of ObjectFemaleFigureCountry of OriginDemocratic Republic of CongoPeopleNdengeseMaterialsWoodApproximate Age20th CenturyOther DimensionsHeight: 10.50 Inches
Width: 2 Inches
Depth: 1.75 Inches
Overall ConditionGood. Most of our pieces have spent decades on at least two continents, and have been treasured by several owners.  Small splits, scrapes and cracks a...re a normal part of their patina attesting to their age and extensive use. We examine each piece carefully when we receive it and report any damage we find in our listings. Please look carefully at the pictures which may also reveal condition and damage. Additional Information: The Ndengese are neighbors of the Kuba, and their figures are known for their elaborate body scarification. Ndengese are said to be from the Mongo group and claim to have been in the area before the Kuba arrived in the center of Democratic Republic of Congo (former Zaire). The Ndengese are related to Nkutshu who are also mongo descent. They share cultural and artistic similarities with the Mongo and the Kuba. According to some traditions, the Ndengese are descended from the Etotoshi, oldest son of Woot, who is said to be the founder of the Kuba kingdom. Upon the investiture of a Kuba king, the Kuba must go to the Ndengese to get the sacred earth, even in this century. The Ndengese are patrilineal. The king Etoshi is aided by a council of elders and reigns over local chiefs His power is counterbalanced by that of the blacksmith, hunting, and secret societies. The Ndengese are farmers, hunters and fishermen. Religion is tied to the various status societies. The chief and notables in power play a major role in village rituals. There is little study of the Ndengese and their art. The Ndengese people make raffia cloth. Men woven raffia cloth, the women embroider it.All chiefs, Etotshi, have non-anthropomorphic scepters and carved head ivory flywhisk. The king also has an ivory staff stopped with a female figure. The Ndengese make wooden carved head as amulet besombo. They make cups, double cups, sometimes figural. The Ndengese also produce ivory side-blown trumpet. Masks found in Ndengese area are very rare and seem to have been adopted from the neighboring Kuba and related peoples such as the Ngeende, and Kete. The statues themselves are so rare. A distinguishing feature of the Ndengese statues is that they end just below the pubic area, without legs. Statues usually feature abundant and elaborate scarifications over the body. Each of them has ritual meanings, which constitute a kind of sign language. The rolls of the elongated neck and a simple flared coiffure are also one of the characteristics of the Ndengese figures. The tope–knot is the sign of Etotoshi and appears on all Ndengese prestige objects of the highest level. Statues like this are said to represent the king and were believed to embody his power. The hands posed around the navel recalls the common origin of those who depend to the chief. These figures are male and female and are placed on the tombs of Etotoshi members. There are also chief’s figures Isikimanji, which hold power and clothing of the old king after he dies. These figures are transferred to the new king in elaborate enthronement ceremonies.For more information, and fine examples, see TRESORS D’AFRIQUE. MUSEE DE TERVUREN, 1995, fig. 142.Cornet Joseph, “A PROPOS DES STATUES NDENGESE” in Art d’Afrique Noire, Spring 1976, no 17, pp 6-16, Arnouville: Arts d’AfriqueCornet, Joseph, A SURVEY OF ZAIREAN ART-THE BRONSON COLLECTION.Felix, Marc L, 100 PEOPLES OF ZAIRE AND THEIR SCULPTURE: THE HANDBOOK. Brussels: Zaire (Congo) Basin Art History Research Center. **127070** All content, including pictures, Copyright Africa Direct Inc., 2006
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Africa Direct, Inc. has been selling on eBay since 1997 and has received more than 51, 000 positive feedbacks. It is owned by Eliza and Sara, who began the company after spending a year wandering southern Africa in a camper van with their multi-racial family. They have been honored with eBay's Hall of Fame award, and by eBay Giving Works, through which they have raised more than $125, 000 in charity auctions. Customer Service: We treasure our many long term customers, and will try to make you one of them! If you have problems, please tell us... we care! Handling Time: We ship daily except Sundays and holidays. Most orders go out the same day, and all go out within 48 hours. Returns: We want you to be happy with your purchase. You're welcome to return an item within 30 days in the same condition you received it--just let us know you're returning it. You may have either a credit or a refund for your purchase price, not including shipping both ways. If your original payment was made through PayPal, we'll refund you through PayPal; if you paid us directly with your credit card, we'll refund the credit card. Combining Shipping: You are welcome to wait to pay, and to combine multiple items for shipping. We ask that you keep each order to 10 days or 10 items, whichever comes first--then start another order. When you're ready, just send us a list of item numbers or an invoice request and we'll send you an invoice. You can pay by Paypal or credit card. U.S. Shipping: We use a professional shipper who has worked with us for ten years. He and his staff take great care in packing our artwork, much of which is antique, irregularly-shaped, and fragile. The cost of his labor and the special packing materials he uses is reflected in our handling price. Our U.S. shipping charges also include insurance; we self-insure on smaller orders. For these reasons, our shipping and handling charges may be more than the price of postage. International Shipping: We ship dozens of international orders each week, to customers on every continent except Antarctica! The shipping charges included in our listings are for U.S. orders. Contact us for shipping charges to your country. We offer uninsured USPS First Class airmail, insured Priority airmail, and insured Express airmail to most parts of the world, depending on the weight, volume, and value of an item. We also ship via FedEx or DHL on request. Import duties, taxes, and charges are NOT INCLUDED in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding / buying. These charges are normally collected by the delivering freight (shipping) company or when you pick the item up -- do not confuse them for additional shipping charges. And please do not ask us to mark merchandise values below the actual value or mark items as "gifts"--U.S. and International government regulations prohibit such behavior. Newsletter, previews and special offers: Sign up for our newsletterGo to Africa Direct Store
Width: 2 Inches
Depth: 1.75 Inches
Overall ConditionGood. Most of our pieces have spent decades on at least two continents, and have been treasured by several owners.  Small splits, scrapes and cracks a...re a normal part of their patina attesting to their age and extensive use. We examine each piece carefully when we receive it and report any damage we find in our listings. Please look carefully at the pictures which may also reveal condition and damage. Additional Information: The Ndengese are neighbors of the Kuba, and their figures are known for their elaborate body scarification. Ndengese are said to be from the Mongo group and claim to have been in the area before the Kuba arrived in the center of Democratic Republic of Congo (former Zaire). The Ndengese are related to Nkutshu who are also mongo descent. They share cultural and artistic similarities with the Mongo and the Kuba. According to some traditions, the Ndengese are descended from the Etotoshi, oldest son of Woot, who is said to be the founder of the Kuba kingdom. Upon the investiture of a Kuba king, the Kuba must go to the Ndengese to get the sacred earth, even in this century. The Ndengese are patrilineal. The king Etoshi is aided by a council of elders and reigns over local chiefs His power is counterbalanced by that of the blacksmith, hunting, and secret societies. The Ndengese are farmers, hunters and fishermen. Religion is tied to the various status societies. The chief and notables in power play a major role in village rituals. There is little study of the Ndengese and their art. The Ndengese people make raffia cloth. Men woven raffia cloth, the women embroider it.All chiefs, Etotshi, have non-anthropomorphic scepters and carved head ivory flywhisk. The king also has an ivory staff stopped with a female figure. The Ndengese make wooden carved head as amulet besombo. They make cups, double cups, sometimes figural. The Ndengese also produce ivory side-blown trumpet. Masks found in Ndengese area are very rare and seem to have been adopted from the neighboring Kuba and related peoples such as the Ngeende, and Kete. The statues themselves are so rare. A distinguishing feature of the Ndengese statues is that they end just below the pubic area, without legs. Statues usually feature abundant and elaborate scarifications over the body. Each of them has ritual meanings, which constitute a kind of sign language. The rolls of the elongated neck and a simple flared coiffure are also one of the characteristics of the Ndengese figures. The tope–knot is the sign of Etotoshi and appears on all Ndengese prestige objects of the highest level. Statues like this are said to represent the king and were believed to embody his power. The hands posed around the navel recalls the common origin of those who depend to the chief. These figures are male and female and are placed on the tombs of Etotoshi members. There are also chief’s figures Isikimanji, which hold power and clothing of the old king after he dies. These figures are transferred to the new king in elaborate enthronement ceremonies.For more information, and fine examples, see TRESORS D’AFRIQUE. MUSEE DE TERVUREN, 1995, fig. 142.Cornet Joseph, “A PROPOS DES STATUES NDENGESE” in Art d’Afrique Noire, Spring 1976, no 17, pp 6-16, Arnouville: Arts d’AfriqueCornet, Joseph, A SURVEY OF ZAIREAN ART-THE BRONSON COLLECTION.Felix, Marc L, 100 PEOPLES OF ZAIRE AND THEIR SCULPTURE: THE HANDBOOK. Brussels: Zaire (Congo) Basin Art History Research Center. **127070** All content, including pictures, Copyright Africa Direct Inc., 2006
Add Us To Your Favorite Sellers!
Please visit our About Us page.
Africa Direct, Inc. has been selling on eBay since 1997 and has received more than 51, 000 positive feedbacks. It is owned by Eliza and Sara, who began the company after spending a year wandering southern Africa in a camper van with their multi-racial family. They have been honored with eBay's Hall of Fame award, and by eBay Giving Works, through which they have raised more than $125, 000 in charity auctions. Customer Service: We treasure our many long term customers, and will try to make you one of them! If you have problems, please tell us... we care! Handling Time: We ship daily except Sundays and holidays. Most orders go out the same day, and all go out within 48 hours. Returns: We want you to be happy with your purchase. You're welcome to return an item within 30 days in the same condition you received it--just let us know you're returning it. You may have either a credit or a refund for your purchase price, not including shipping both ways. If your original payment was made through PayPal, we'll refund you through PayPal; if you paid us directly with your credit card, we'll refund the credit card. Combining Shipping: You are welcome to wait to pay, and to combine multiple items for shipping. We ask that you keep each order to 10 days or 10 items, whichever comes first--then start another order. When you're ready, just send us a list of item numbers or an invoice request and we'll send you an invoice. You can pay by Paypal or credit card. U.S. Shipping: We use a professional shipper who has worked with us for ten years. He and his staff take great care in packing our artwork, much of which is antique, irregularly-shaped, and fragile. The cost of his labor and the special packing materials he uses is reflected in our handling price. Our U.S. shipping charges also include insurance; we self-insure on smaller orders. For these reasons, our shipping and handling charges may be more than the price of postage. International Shipping: We ship dozens of international orders each week, to customers on every continent except Antarctica! The shipping charges included in our listings are for U.S. orders. Contact us for shipping charges to your country. We offer uninsured USPS First Class airmail, insured Priority airmail, and insured Express airmail to most parts of the world, depending on the weight, volume, and value of an item. We also ship via FedEx or DHL on request. Import duties, taxes, and charges are NOT INCLUDED in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding / buying. These charges are normally collected by the delivering freight (shipping) company or when you pick the item up -- do not confuse them for additional shipping charges. And please do not ask us to mark merchandise values below the actual value or mark items as "gifts"--U.S. and International government regulations prohibit such behavior. Newsletter, previews and special offers: Sign up for our newsletterGo to Africa Direct Store
