The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 22, 2023

Figure (iginga)

probably 1800s

Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lega-style maker

Elephant ivory, tukula, and oil

Overall: 16.7 x 5.5 x 4.5 cm (6 9/16 x 2 3/16 x 1 3/4 in.)

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 2005.3

Location

not on view

Description

The life of Lega men and women is structured around their advancement through the different grades of the Bwami association. Fulfilling political, social, religious, and other roles, the members’ ultimate purpose is the pursuit of wisdom and excellence. Ivory figurines were reserved for members of the two highest Bwami grades, in which the core of the Lega’s moral philosophy is revealed.

Provenance
ca. 1950s
Charles Ratton, Paris, France
no date recorded
Guy Ladriere, Paris, France
ca. 1980-1983
Pierre Dartevelle, Paris, France
1983-2005
The Vranken-Hoet Collection, Brussels, Belgium
2005 to present
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH by purchase
Exhibition history

The Language of Beauty in African Art. Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, TX (April 3-July 31, 2022) https://kimbellart.org/exhibition/language-beauty-african-art; The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL (organizer) (November 10, 2022-February 27, 2023) https://www.artic.edu/exhibitions/9344/the-language-of-beauty-in-african....

Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2005.3