A Lega Ivory Animal Figure, Democratic Republic of the Congo

carved of hippopotamus ivory (hippopotamus amphibious), the animal figure with long round body; exceptionally fine gold brown patina with traces of red and white pigment.

This quadruped is probably a representation of Ikaga, the giant pangolin. According to Biebuyck (2002: 190) the animal was a mythical hero "celebrated as Isamukulu, Great-Father and 'Greater than Elephant.'" For a related figure formerly in the Henry Pareyn Collection, Brussels, and collected before 1920 see Biebuyck (2002: 191 cat. 136).