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
	<i>The Language of Beauty in African Art</i>. 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