| For additional detail, click on any photo below to see the higher resolution version of the image. |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 |  |  |  | |
 |  |  |  |  |
Friction oracle: Janus-headed animal (Itombwa), Kuba peoples, Democratic Republic of the Congo
13" long x 3" tall (to top of figure)
wood, plant fiber, pigment
mid 20th century
Being sold on consignment from a private collection, MA.
$500
A beautiful example of this type of object. The owner collected it during his time spent working in
Africa in the 70's. The object shows no real signs of age or use, it was either collected early in it's
life or made specifically for the collecting market and priced accordingly.
"Regarded as infallible divinatory instruments, friction oracles (itombwa) were used to mediate
between diviners and omniscient nature spirits in order to determine the cause of illnesses and
appropriate courses of treatment and to expose dishonesty. They performed this role in the guise
of an animal form, favored by nature spirits, designed to register their insights in response to
human manipulation." - Metropolitan Museum of Art
13" long x 3" tall (to top of figure)
wood, plant fiber, pigment
mid 20th century
Being sold on consignment from a private collection, MA.
$500
A beautiful example of this type of object. The owner collected it during his time spent working in
Africa in the 70's. The object shows no real signs of age or use, it was either collected early in it's
life or made specifically for the collecting market and priced accordingly.
"Regarded as infallible divinatory instruments, friction oracles (itombwa) were used to mediate
between diviners and omniscient nature spirits in order to determine the cause of illnesses and
appropriate courses of treatment and to expose dishonesty. They performed this role in the guise
of an animal form, favored by nature spirits, designed to register their insights in response to
human manipulation." - Metropolitan Museum of Art
| For additional detail, click on any photo below to see the higher resolution version of the image. |
