id: 163924 accession number: 2005.3 share license status: CC0 url: https://clevelandart.org/art/2005.3 updated: 2023-03-24 11:13:14.211000 Figure (iginga), probably 1800s. Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lega-style maker. Elephant ivory, tukula, and oil; overall: 16.7 x 5.5 x 4.5 cm (6 9/16 x 2 3/16 x 1 3/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 2005.3 title: Figure (iginga) title in original language: series: series in original language: creation date: probably 1800s creation date earliest: 1800 creation date latest: 1899 current location: creditline: Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund copyright: --- culture: Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lega-style maker technique: Elephant ivory, tukula, and oil department: African Art collection: African Art type: Sculpture find spot: catalogue raisonne: --- CREATORS --- measurements: Overall: 16.7 x 5.5 x 4.5 cm (6 9/16 x 2 3/16 x 1 3/4 in.) state of the work: edition of the work: support materials: inscriptions: --- CURRENT EXHIBITIONS title: The Language of Beauty in African Art opening date: 2022-04-03T04:00:00 The Language of Beauty in African Art. Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, TX (April 3-July 31, 2022) https://kimbellart.org/exhibition/language-beauty-african-art; The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL (organizer) (November 10, 2022-February 27, 2023) https://www.artic.edu/exhibitions/9344/the-language-of-beauty-in-african-art. --- LEGACY EXHIBITIONS --- PROVENANCE Charles Ratton, Paris, France date: ca. 1950s footnotes: * citations: Guy Ladriere, Paris, France date: no date recorded footnotes: citations: Pierre Dartevelle, Paris, France date: ca. 1980-1983 footnotes: citations: The Vranken-Hoet Collection, Brussels, Belgium date: 1983-2005 footnotes: citations: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH by purchase date: 2005 to present footnotes: citations: --- fun fact: digital description: wall description: The life of Lega men and women is structured around their advancement through the different grades of the Bwami association. Fulfilling political, social, religious, and other roles, the members’ ultimate purpose is the pursuit of wisdom and excellence. Ivory figurines were reserved for members of the two highest Bwami grades, in which the core of the Lega’s moral philosophy is revealed. --- RELATED WORKS --- CITATIONS --- IMAGES web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2005.3/2005.3_web.jpg print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2005.3/2005.3_print.jpg full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2005.3/2005.3_full.tif