Rivalry between two Songye power figures

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

Christie's and Sotheby's are used throughout the world to hold their major specialty sales at the same time in the same city. Still do not believe they work together so closely that two Songye Kalebwe power figures of the same size are presented the same day, December 4 in Paris by each of the two auction houses. They come from two different collections.

At Christie's, it is lot 319, estimated 300 K €. It is a male figure 89 cm high. The face is expressive and nicely scarified. The inflated belly is centered with a hole in the navel, to gather magic materials. It is wearing a cat skin around the hips. Made in wood, it is decorated with metal ornaments.

At Sotheby's, it is lot 146, estimated 200 K €, 88 cm high. The aged head is very realistic. Made for the same use as Christie's sample, it has retained its magic loads. Its cloth on the hips is in raffia.

The Songye are a population of the current Democratic Republic of Congo.

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

The two rivals had targeted too high in their estimates for Songye fetishes.
Christie's did not sell its own.
Sotheby's has sold its own 240 K € inclusive, very close to the low estimate. Two other Songye fetishes remained unsold at Sotheby's, on estimates of 200 and 180 K €.

Note in these Parisian sales the excellent results of the two other lots that I included in my weekly preview of November 23:

At Sotheby's, the Fang head of Gabon formerly from the collection of Louis Carré was sold 770 K € fees included.
At Christie's, the Luba statuette was sold 550 K € fees included.