Top!! and extremely rare!! TETALA/SONGO village fetish, DR Congo, 19th century

Tetela/Songo, DR Congo. Stunning very old village fetish. This statue has functioned as a protector against diseases and also for healing. It was used for the entire village and only when there was a serious problem. It has two charges; one on the belly and one in the horn. The horn was also used to stoke the fire. The necklace consists of a gourd and glass paste beads. The patina shows intensive use and age and is truly stunning. The face is one of the most impressive I have seen in recent years.

The statue stands in a tin basket with hand-woven fabric made of natural fibers on the edge. Although the photos give a good impression, the picture in real life is even more beautiful. For me it really a museum piece!!  A golden opportunity for the collector of very special African ethnographic items. At least 3x my price in a gallery.

Height: 45 cm, the statue itself 37 cm
Circumference: 71 cm
Weight: 2795 gram
Origin: DR Congo
Date: 19th century
Provenance: ex mr Le Gros, Verviers,Liège, Belgium