Power figure / Fetish altar - Biteki - Yaka - DR Congo

Very rare Yaka “Biteki” power figure – altar ensemble in a basket with stone knife, lock & conch shells – D.R. Congo Description An exceptionally expressive and highly complex ritual altar ensemble from the Democratic Republic of the Congo is presented. It is a finely carved power figure, known as Biteki, attributed to the Yaka people. These figures served personal, protective and ritual purposes and were traditionally anointed with spiritual substances. Special features & details Head & iconography: The artistically carved wooden head stands out with finely worked facial features and wears a distinctive crescent-shaped cap. A dense wreath of feathers decorates the neck area. Korpus & charge: The body is fully and firmly wrapped with textiles or leather. Beneath lies the traditional ritual charge, giving the figure its spiritual meaning. Basket & ritual objects: The figure sits in a woven basket, its sides decorated with animal hides. Inside is a firm, crusted layer of ritual substances and earth. Accompaniments: On the side of the basket is mounted an archaic-looking stone knife. Additionally, an old, oxidized padlock lies loose in the basket. Base: On the underside of the basket there are conch shells and a richly filled cloth sack. Object data Object: Power figure / Fetish altar (Biteki / Nkisi) Region/Origin country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Ethnicity / Tribe: Yaka Material: Wood, leather/fabric, stone, iron (lock), feathers, conch shells, earth masses Condition: Good condition with age-related patina and signs of use (see photos) Condition & age A rare older piece with developed patina, ritual crusts, and age- and use-related traces. The surface and materials convey a pronounced historical and ethnographic aura. Dimensions Height: 28 cm Width: 20 cm Depth: 20 cm Shipping Shipping is professionally packaged, fully insured and tracked via DHL.

Estimate:$308.06

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