Zande Diviners Whistle
$199.00
In stock
In stock
Details
ITEM #:
2701
ETHNICITY:
Zande
ORIGIN:
Democratic Republic of Congo
MEDIUM:
Wood.
DIMENSIONS:
12.5″ (31.75 cm) Tall.
CONDITION:
Very Good
NOTE:
On Custom display stand.
CATALOGUE NOTE:
This very rare Zande multi-purpose whistle is a prestige object, is used in communal hunting, but is most commonly used by ritual diviners, who use whistles to summon the spirits. Figurative whistles are usually made from bone and other more prestigious animal material. Wood whistles are often non figurative; making this is a rare example of an anthropomorphic whistle made from wood. The face shows some of the attributes important to Zande esthetics, including an elegant coiffure and scarification markings represented schematically by the punched circles on the whistle. In addition to rattles and bells, whistles were and are an important instrument for invoking the spirits’ attention and trust.