African Art - Salampasu Fertility Figure (No. 17807) - Ethnic Decoration

Ex-german collection accompanied by its certificate of authenticity. Ethnic group: salampasu country: congo estimated date: circa 1960 this female figure in a semi-flexed position, hands placed on either side of the abdomen, embodies an ancestor. She is represented wearing a mask of the ethnic group. This statuette was dedicated to fertility and fecundity rites. Desiccation cracks. Semi-satin patina. Living from hunting and agriculture, a warrior people, the salampasu form a tribe of the lulua group and are settled between the democratic republic of congo and angola, east of the kasai river. They are surrounded to the west and south by the tschokwe and the lunda, and to the north and east by the kete and the lwalwa. A hierarchy of masks, simple wooden kasangu masks and copper-covered mukinka masks, was associated with the society of mungongo (pl. Bangongo) warriors. The wearing of these masks depended on a large contribution in livestock, drinks, or other material goods from the aspirant who was initiated into esoteric knowledge by the other initiates. ( africa, prestel).