Azande Bone Figure, Democratic Republic of the Congo

carved from African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) bone.

Julius Carlebach, New York
Stanley Marcus, acquired from the above in 1952
John Lunsford, Dallas
Joel Cooner, Dallas
Rey Kerr, New York, acquired from the above in 1991
Martin Lerner, New York, acquired from the above in May 1996

Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, Dallas, African Art from Dallas Collections, July 26 - September 4, 1972

John Lunsford, African Art from Dallas Collections, Dallas, 1972, cat. 125 (as Lega)

Excellent condition for an object of this age and rare type. Bone is porous in places. Minor marks, nicks, scratches, and abrasion from age and handling. Fine aged varied patina with encrustation. Shallow cut to one side of bottom. Metal sleeve embedded in center of underside with glue for insertion of base pin.
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The faceted, inverted-triangular face and abstracted columnar form of the present figure is typical of the ritual sculptures of the Azande in the region around the Lower Uele River, a tributary of the Ubangi River in the northeastern part of present day Democratic Republic of the Congo. Such sculptures were used as a ritual device by members of the  Mani-Yanda initiation society. Grootaers (2007: 70) notes: "The Mani-Yanda association's main purpose was the dissemination of magic among its male and female members that would ensure their general wellbeing: health, fertility, and success in any undertaking."  The use of cult objects (kore) was critical in Mani-Yanda practice.  Grootaers (ibid.: 71) continues: "The Zande [Azande] of the Lower Uele District were undoubtedly the most prolific sculptors and modelers.  [...] Mani officials kept the statues on a platform in a special hut in the forest and might own up to a dozen of them.  They were fed and rubbed with red camwood powder (mbagu) or Mani paste, and they received strings of beads, rings or coins in recognition of services rendered."
Anthropomorphic kore were known as nazeze or kudu, and the finest take the form of highly simplified, ingeniously abstracted geometric bodies.  No other Azande kore are known in elephant bone, undoubtedly a powerful and significant substance.  For several comparable Mani-Yanda figurative sculptures see Grootaers (2007: 70-81).