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<p>[QUOTE="2manybooks, post: 4319585, member: 8267"]I was just about to post that I thought the third figure might be Teke, based on the square beard, triangular nose and facial scarifications, as illustrated on this Teke figure:</p><p><img src="https://i.etsystatic.com/17352343/r/il/d78257/2689119285/il_794xN.2689119285_d8rg.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/885824692/teke-tege-figure-democratic-republic-of?ref=shop_home_active_80&frs=1" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/885824692/teke-tege-figure-democratic-republic-of?ref=shop_home_active_80&frs=1" rel="nofollow">https://www.etsy.com/listing/885824692/teke-tege-figure-democratic-republic-of?ref=shop_home_active_80&frs=1</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Bilongo is a term that refers to the powerful substances placed in an nkisi. The terminology is quite confusing. You see "nkisi" used to refer to such figures, to other types of containers, and to the "medicine"/bilongo enclosed. There are also different types of minkisi figures - nkondi "nail fetishes", for example, are described as more aggressive than other types of minkisi. Here is a good discussion of the tradition:</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nkisi" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nkisi" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nkisi</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Here is a hunter figure attributed to the Bakongo, which is described as "vintage 1960s": (This etsy listing also provides a good general discussion of Kongo art.)</p><p><img src="https://i.etsystatic.com/17352343/r/il/012cbb/2570576747/il_794xN.2570576747_qzl0.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/869585265/bakongo-hunter-figure-democratic?ref=shop_home_active_86&frs=1" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/869585265/bakongo-hunter-figure-democratic?ref=shop_home_active_86&frs=1" rel="nofollow">https://www.etsy.com/listing/869585265/bakongo-hunter-figure-democratic?ref=shop_home_active_86&frs=1</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Your hunter figure might have been made as a commemorative piece, but without a specific history of its use it is difficult to say if it (or any of the three) are "authentic" in the sense of being made for use within the original culture vs made for sale. Carvers could make the same type of carving for either purpose.</p><p><br /></p><p>Of the three, I like the little second figure best. For some reason (maybe the lighting?) I could not "read" the recess on the back. Is there anything set into the eyes? I am also curious as to whether you think the figure is male or female. From the photos, I do not see any male "equipment", but I would expect the breasts to be more prominent if she(?) was meant as a typical Yombe "fertility" figure. Such figures usually include infants as well. Here is one, though, that is somewhat similar, attributed to the Yombe:</p><p><img src="https://assets.artworkarchive.com/image/upload/t_jpg_large/v1/user_14609/2676-yombe-figure-a_f12jbh" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><a href="https://forafricanart.com/product/yombe-maternity-figure-2676/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://forafricanart.com/product/yombe-maternity-figure-2676/" rel="nofollow">https://forafricanart.com/product/yombe-maternity-figure-2676/</a>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="2manybooks, post: 4319585, member: 8267"]I was just about to post that I thought the third figure might be Teke, based on the square beard, triangular nose and facial scarifications, as illustrated on this Teke figure: [IMG]https://i.etsystatic.com/17352343/r/il/d78257/2689119285/il_794xN.2689119285_d8rg.jpg[/IMG] [URL]https://www.etsy.com/listing/885824692/teke-tege-figure-democratic-republic-of?ref=shop_home_active_80&frs=1[/URL] Bilongo is a term that refers to the powerful substances placed in an nkisi. The terminology is quite confusing. You see "nkisi" used to refer to such figures, to other types of containers, and to the "medicine"/bilongo enclosed. There are also different types of minkisi figures - nkondi "nail fetishes", for example, are described as more aggressive than other types of minkisi. Here is a good discussion of the tradition: [URL]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nkisi[/URL] Here is a hunter figure attributed to the Bakongo, which is described as "vintage 1960s": (This etsy listing also provides a good general discussion of Kongo art.) [IMG]https://i.etsystatic.com/17352343/r/il/012cbb/2570576747/il_794xN.2570576747_qzl0.jpg[/IMG] [URL]https://www.etsy.com/listing/869585265/bakongo-hunter-figure-democratic?ref=shop_home_active_86&frs=1[/URL] Your hunter figure might have been made as a commemorative piece, but without a specific history of its use it is difficult to say if it (or any of the three) are "authentic" in the sense of being made for use within the original culture vs made for sale. Carvers could make the same type of carving for either purpose. Of the three, I like the little second figure best. For some reason (maybe the lighting?) I could not "read" the recess on the back. Is there anything set into the eyes? I am also curious as to whether you think the figure is male or female. From the photos, I do not see any male "equipment", but I would expect the breasts to be more prominent if she(?) was meant as a typical Yombe "fertility" figure. Such figures usually include infants as well. Here is one, though, that is somewhat similar, attributed to the Yombe: [IMG]https://assets.artworkarchive.com/image/upload/t_jpg_large/v1/user_14609/2676-yombe-figure-a_f12jbh[/IMG] [URL]https://forafricanart.com/product/yombe-maternity-figure-2676/[/URL][/QUOTE]
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