Amulet Figure
Songye, Dem. Rep. of Congo
Late 19th – Early 20th c
Provenance: Collected by Hans Himmelheber, inv. number 2723.
Noble and Jean Endicott collection, NY acquired in 1991 at Parke Benet, NY
With its long ringed neck and unmistakable Songye face this charm is really one of a kind. This type of object was either attached to a larger fetish or perhaps part of a diviner’s necklace. Both ears have been pierced, indicating where a cord could have been strung through it. Small wooden amulet figures from the Songye tribe with long ringed necks are considered to be particularly powerful objects of spiritual significance. The long ringed neck of these figures represents the connection between the physical and spiritual realms, with the rings symbolizing the ability of the amulet to “stretch” and reach into the spiritual realm to bring back protection and power. The figure itself is believed to embody the strength and power of the ancestral spirits, which can be harnessed for the benefit of the owner. What is also special about this figure is that its original fiber skirt is still wrapped around its body. Carved from hardwood, the surface has been rubbed with a red pigment and the object shows handling from use. In excellent condition.
Hans Himmelheber (1908-2003) was an African Arts anthropologist and considered one of the foremost experts in his field. Born in Germany, he studied anthropology and African art at the University of Berlin. He began his career as a curator at the Ethnological Museum of Berlin, where he specialized in African art and culture. In the 1940s, he emigrated to France and eventually settled in Geneva, Switzerland.
Throughout his career, Himmelheber was an avid collector and researcher of African art, traveling extensively throughout Africa to study and collect artifacts. His collection, which is considered one of the largest and most comprehensive of its kind, was donated to several museums throughout the world, including the Musée Barbier-Mueller in Geneva, the Musée Royal de l’Afrique Centrale in Tervuren, Belgium, and the Museum of Cultural History at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Amulet Figure
Songye, Dem. Rep. of Congo
Late 19th – Early 20th c
Provenance: Collected by Hans Himmelheber, inv. number 2723. Noble and Jean Endicott collection, NY acquired in 1991 at Parke Benet, NY
With its long ringed neck and unmistakable Songye face this charm is really one of a kind. This type of object was either attached to a larger fetish or perhaps part of a diviner’s necklace. Both ears have been pierced, indicating where a cord could have been strung through it. Small wooden amulet figures from the Songye tribe with long ringed necks are considered to be particularly powerful objects of spiritual significance. The long ringed neck of these figures represents the connection between the physical and spiritual realms, with the rings symbolizing the ability of the amulet to “stretch” and reach into the spiritual realm to bring back protection and power. The figure itself is believed to embody the strength and power of the ancestral spirits, which can be harnessed for the benefit of the owner. What is also special about this figure is that its original fiber skirt is still wrapped around its body. Carved from hardwood, the surface has been rubbed with a red pigment and the object shows handling from use. In excellent condition.
Hans Himmelheber (1908-2003) was an African Arts anthropologist and considered one of the foremost experts in his field. Born in Germany, he studied anthropology and African art at the University of Berlin. He began his career as a curator at the Ethnological Museum of Berlin, where he specialized in African art and culture. In the 1940s, he emigrated to France and eventually settled in Geneva, Switzerland.
Throughout his career, Himmelheber was an avid collector and researcher of African art, traveling extensively throughout Africa to study and collect artifacts. His collection, which is considered one of the largest and most comprehensive of its kind, was donated to several museums throughout the world, including the Musée Barbier-Mueller in Geneva, the Musée Royal de l’Afrique Centrale in Tervuren, Belgium, and the Museum of Cultural History at the University of California, Los Angeles.