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Female Figurine (possibly iginga) for Bwami Society

Female Figurine (possibly iginga) for Bwami Society

Unknown

Bwami is a voluntary society for Lega men and women that instructs its members in “wisdom and moral excellence.” Human figures (maginga) are used to convey esoteric knowledge and power during initiation to the highest male grade, kindi. An initiate’s wife cared for this figure, rubbing it with oils and camwood paste cosmetics that she would use on her own body, thus aligning herself with the figure’s exemplary morality and value.
Artist
Unknown (Congolese, Lega People)
Title
Female Figurine (possibly iginga) for Bwami Society
Date
late 19th century-early 20th century
Medium
Ivory
Dimensions
7 1/8 in. H Overall
Credit
Gift of Lester Wunderman
Accession No.
62.3.7
Classification
Sculpture
Geography
Democratic Republic of Congo

Related

Acquired by Lester Wunderman (New York, NY) between January 1957 [1] and May 1962 (when he made contact with UW–Madison staff about the collection) from an as-yet unknown European source; July 1962, given by Lester Wunderman to the University of Wisconsin–Madison; 1967, transferred to UW–Madison’s Elvehjem Art Center (now called the Chazen Museum of Art). [Last researched by Chazen staff 4/28/2023] [1] when he first began collecting African art, according to the preface of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s catalogue "Art of the Dogon: Selections from the Lester Wunderman Collection"

  • High, Freida. "Traditional African Art, a Female Focus." Madison: Elvehjem Museum of Art, 1981. p. [36], cat. no. 3 [III]

  • Traditional African Art: A Female Focus: Elvehjem Museum of Art, 6/20/1981–7/26/1981
  • Negro Heritage: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 11/1/1968–6/11/1969

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