Antique African Hemba Congo Figural Double Head Carved 16" Wooden Pestle NR yqz

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Welcome to Estate Auctions Inc!We are one of the Leading Sellers of Antiques, Collectibles and Quirky items on eBay. We have been selling since 1998 and ALL of our auctions start at .99 cents. We are proud to announce that we maintain a 'FIVE STAR Detailed Seller Rating' and our staff strives for 100% customer satisfaction, our 100% feedback rating will vouch for that. We work with consigners from Coast-To-Coast and work hard to make sure we have top quality items.We are 'Your Quality Zone' - search 'YQZ' to see our other listingsSee Other Listings Antique African Hemba Congo Figural Double Head Carved 16" Wooden Pestle NRJust ONE From Our HUGE Ethnographic Collection!Recently a consignor of ours ended up at the beat all end all ethnographic auction, with amazing antique ethnographic artifacts from all over the world, from Pre-Columbian to African to Oceania/Papua New Guinea. Being as we are not experts and there is not provenance with these, we are describing them the best we can. If we get something wrong, let us know and when able pass your insights on. NOTE: Any that came from the collection marked Pre_Columbian or such we are putting down in the reproduction category first as we do not have the capabilities to carbon date anything. Please bid on these based on what you know and feel. These will all be going up over the next few weeks, so check back regularly if you love ethnographic items. In this auction we have a cool hand carved figural double headed wooden pestle attributed to the Hemba tribe of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, from the early to mid 1900's. Measuring approx. 16-3/4" long by 2", carved with two faces...keep scrolling there are 11 pictures and more description beneath the photos below!facing opposite directions along the top, narrowing in the center for an easy grip with a rounded bottom. There is overall wear that would commensurate with its age and use with some small losses, be sure to scroll through our many photos to get the best idea of condition. Just one piece from our large Ethnographic collection! Hemba as found on the zyama website (GREAT Site!) In southeast DRC, the 90,000 Hemba people inhabit the right bank of the Lualaba River. This region presents vast plains surrounded by high hills and bordered by streams, rocks, and marshes. They are primarily subsistence agriculturalists whose main staples include manioc, maize, peanuts, beans and yams. These crops are supplemented by small scale hunting and fishing done mostly by the men. Some alluvial copper is panned from the river and sold to outside markets. Their social organization is founded on a system of clans that brings together several families sharing a common ancestor. They recognize a creator god Vidiye Mukulu and a supreme being ShimuGabo. The Hemba practice ancestor worship, not only to keep the memory of their great chiefs alive, but also to justify the present authority and power of the chief of the clan; the latter has absolute authority over clan members and is in charge of several ancestor figures he keeps in his own hut or in a smaller, funerary hut. The chief of the clan renders justice and his status as clan head means that he has the privilege of receiving numerous gifts. As celebrant of the ancestral cult, the chief of the clan, surrounded by the people, communicates with the ancestor, recalling his great deeds and summoning his good will. He renders justice in his own home, and collects tributes for it. Along with medicine, law, and sacrifices, the ancestral cult penetrates all social, political, and religious domains. To possess numerous effigies is a sign of nobility. Secret societies such as Bukazanzi for the men and Bukibilo for the women counterbalance the chief of the clan's power. Diviners play an important role in society, often requiring that certain ancestors be appeased in order to establish balance in the community. The Hemba are a matrilineal people with a sculptural tradition devoted... read more

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