Strange Looking Azande Northern Congo Double-Faced Ancestral Cult Figure (Yanda Figure)

ZANDE (OR AZANDE) DRC NORTHERN CONGO DOUBLE FACED ANCESTRAL CULT FIGURE WITH SEMI-CIRCULAR (ALMOST TRIANGULAR) HEADS CARVED FROM HARD WOOD.
 
THE ZANDE SCULPTORS OF THE DRC ARE RENOWNED FOR THESE SMALL NAZEZE AND BANDA OR YANDA FIGURINES OF THE MANI CULT WHOSE FORMS ARE VERY SIMPLIFIED, REINFORCING THE MAIN AXES.
 
THE BODY HAS SMALL, POWERFUL LEGS WITH ANGULAR SHAPES. THE DOUBLE-FACED HEAD IS ALMOST A SEMICIRCLE. NOTE THE NAVEL OF THIS STRONGLY EXTRUDED STATUETTE.
 
BRASS OR COPPER METAL STRIPS ARE LINED ALONG THE UPPER OUTLINE OF THE FACE AND NOSE AND LOWER ANKLES. A DARK PATINA OF USE COVERS THE ENTIRE FIGURINE AND CLEARLY SHOWS ITS AGE. ESTIMATED 1950S TO 1960S BELGIUM CONGO ERA.
 
The Zande, in northern Congo, have an ancestor cult and a secret society called mani. This mani society looks after all social and religious concerns of the Zande people. Within the mani society, both larger ancestor sculptures and small protective figures are produced and consecrated. These small, highly abstract protective figures are called yanda. They are intended to protect their owners from illness, witchcraft and infertility, as well as guarantee luck in hunting.
 
There are two variations of these yanda protective figures: the one with two diagonally outspread legs is identified as male, and the one without legs, with only a cylindrical body, is defined as female.Our yanda protective figure has two strong legs and is therefore male.
 
SIZE: 12CM WIDE 26CM HIGH 8CM DEEP
 
CONDITION: CLEAR AGED WEAR. STILL IN TACT AND IN GOOD CONDITION.
 
NOTE I HAVE VARIOUS INTERSTING AFRICAN ARTIFACTS ON AUCTION THIS WEEK. STRANGE WOODEN CARVED BOWLS AND GOURDS TO OLD AFRICAN POTTERY LAMPS AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. ALSO AN AFRICAN LUBA DRC PIPE.
 
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (DRC):
The Belgians took over this part of Africa around 1885 CE and created what became known as the Belgian Congo (1908-1960 CE). A region constantly troubled by civil wars, it gained independence in 1960 CE and underwent several name changes as regimes rose and fell in quick succession. It became the Republic of the Congo (aka Congo-Leopoldville) from 1960-4 CE, the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1964-71 CE, the Republic of Zaire from 1971-97 CE and finally today's Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1997 CE.
 
PLEASE ALSO SEE MY OTHER ITEMS LISTED. I HAVE SOME OTHER INTERESTING ITEMS ON AUCTION THIS WEEK. COPY THE URL UNDERNEATH AND PASTE INTO GOOGLE AND IT WILL TAKE YOU DIRECTLY TO ALL MY LISTINGS THIS WEEK. NOTE ALL MY AUCTIONS END AT 22H30 SO IT IS ADVISABLE TO PUT IN AN AUTOMATIC BID (HIGHEST PRICE YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY) EARLY.
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