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Central African Mangbetu African Walnut Male Busts

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:50.00 USD Estimated At:150.00 - 300.00 USD
Central African Mangbetu African Walnut Male Busts
Featured in this lot is this Central African Mangbetu African Walnut male bust collection. The collection consists of two miniature busts with traditional elongated head of the Mangbetu tribal people of Central Africa. The Mangbetu stood out to European colonists because of their elongated heads. Traditionally, babies' heads were wrapped tightly with cloth in order to give them this distinctive appearance. The practice, called Lipombo, began dying out in the 1950s with the arrival of more Europeans and westernization. Because of this distinctive look, it is easy to recognize Mangbetu figures in African art. The condition of these two miniature busts is good, with a slight fracture along the right hand side of the smaller bust due to natural pressure release. The measurements of these miniature busts are 2 1/2" x 7/8" x 1" and 1 1/4" x 1" x 1 1/8".