Fly whisk – Wood – Yombe – DR Congo

Description

Ceremonial fly whisk from the Yombe tribeof DR Congo. Good condition with a beautiful aged patina.

Flywhisks in Africa served two functions, the first being used to prevent insects from alighting on people or food. They were also part of a leader or chief’s regalia, a symbol of power and authority that would accompany the chief during most of his official duties. Heads, figures, beadwork or other decoration on the handle would enhance the prestige of the object which served as a mark of social status

Provenance: Former private collection from Germany.

Object

Fly whisk

Ethnic group:

Yombe

Country:

DR Congo

Material:

Wood, Hair

Estimated period:

Mid 20th century

Sold with stand:

No

Dimensions:

37x5x4 cm

Weight:

130 gram

Condition:

Good condition, used with some signs of wear

Reserve: $100.00

Shipping:

Domestic: Flat-rate of $39.00 to anywhere within the contiguous U.S.

International: Foreign shipping rates are determined by destination. International shipping may be subject to VAT.

Combined shipping: Please ask about combined shipping for multiple lots before bidding.

Location: This item ships from Netherlands

Your purchase is protected:
In the rare event that the item did not conform to the lot description in the sale, Chairish Auctions specialists are here to help. Buyers may return the item for a full refund provided you notify Chairish Auctions within 5 days of receiving the item.

Buyer's Premium

20%

Fly whisk – Wood – Yombe – DR Congo

Lot 0152

Estimate $120-$150May 20, 2026, 12:00 PM EDT

Starting Price

Secure

$80

SET YOUR MAX BID

Good Bid

Strong Bid

Competitive Bid

Or select a higher max bid amount

Get approved to bid.

LiveAuctioneers Purchase Protection

Vetted auction houses

Secure, online bidding

Returns guaranteed for misrepresented listings

Dedicated support when you need it

Decorative Tribal Art Sale

May 20, 2026 12:00 PM EDT

New York, NY, United States

Phurba – Wood – Nepal: A phurba is a magical ritual dagger consisting of three segments and originally used by shamans in Nepal and Tibet to ward off negative energy. The story goes that phurbas were traditionally carved

3 days LeftPhurba – Wood – Nepal

Ancestor Figure – Wood – Yombe – Congo: High quality and eye for detail, lovely Yombe ancestor figure from DR Congo. Powerfull small figure. The ancestor figure has a great patina of use. The 300,000 YOMBE people are artistically prolific.

3 days LeftAncestor Figure – Wood – Yombe – Congo

Yela Mask – Wood – Mbole – DR Congo: Unique Mbole mask from DR Congo. These masks are worn by the sacrificing women. Men who did not respect the rules of custom were hanged and these women priests were killing the hanged. There is very

3 days LeftYela Mask – Wood – Mbole – DR Congo

Kalulu Mask – Plant fibre – Chokwe – Zambia: Beautiful stylistic Chokwe mask from the Zambia not far from the border area with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The term askishi designates among the Chokwe, Luchazi, Luvale, Lunda and related

3 days LeftKalulu Mask – Plant fibre – Chokwe – Zambia

Ibeji Figure – Wood – Yoruba – Nigeria: Lovely Yaka slit drum from DR Congo. Slit drums are played in ensembles at dances and announce the arrival of the chief and other high dignitaries. Good condition with a beautiful patina of age.

3 days LeftIbeji Figure – Wood – Yoruba – Nigeria

Kidumu Mask – Wood, Raphia – Teke – DR Congo: Large wooden Kidumu mask with full raphia from the Teke community. This kind of masks were used in important meetings, at funerals of chiefs and during wedding ceremonies. The mask consists of

3 days LeftKidumu Mask – Wood, Raphia – Teke – DR Congo

Mask – Wood – Tetela – Congo: Tribal Tetela mask from DR Congo. Their very diverse sculptures are marked by influence of groups living in contact with them: the Mongo, Nkutschu, Binji and Mputu, Kuba and Songye tribe. Great mask,

3 days LeftMask – Wood – Tetela – Congo

Lagalagana figure – Wood – Mumuye – Nigeria: Stunning double headed (Janus) Lagalagana figure from the Mumuye tribe of Nigeria. Living on the left bank of the Benue River, the 400,000 Mumuye people intensively farm an area of plains. Mumuye arti

3 days LeftLagalagana figure – Wood – Mumuye – Nigeria

Ladder – Wood – Dogon – Mali (167 cm): Enormous tribally used ladder from the Dogon tribe of Mali. The ladders are a simple, abstract, intelligent use of materials. Carved from a naturally forked tree, indoor versions wear to a smooth glos

3 days LeftLadder – Wood – Dogon – Mali (167 cm)

Monkey Mask – Wood – Hemba – DR Congo: Hemba monkey mask from DR Congo in a rustic style. Soko-Mutu combining animal (chimpanzee) and human facial traits. The Luba name is : Mwisu gwa So’o, in Kishwahili : Soko Mutu or Monkey face

3 days LeftMonkey Mask – Wood – Hemba – DR Congo

Ancestor Figure – Wood – Boa – DR Congo: Beautiful bronze / iron figure from the Fon people of Benin. Provenance: Manfred Schäfer, former gallery owner from Ulm, Germany. Including custom made stand. Object: Bronze figure Ethnic group:

3 days LeftAncestor Figure – Wood – Boa – DR Congo

Textile – Cloth – Shoowa-Kuba – DR Congo 340 cm: Kuba skirts, Tcaka, long are cloths made from raffia, from 8 – 25 feet long, from the Ngeende, Bushoong and Ngongo peoples. They incorporate appliqued “patches”, embroidered shapes

3 days LeftTextile – Cloth – Shoowa-Kuba – DR Congo 340 cm

Ceremonial Pipe – Wood – Chokwe – Congo: Stylistic well carved wooden pipe from the Chokwe people of DR Congo. At its height during the second half of the nineteenth century, aristocrats surrounded themselves with a wide variety of finely

3 days LeftCeremonial Pipe – Wood – Chokwe – Congo

Ancestor Figure – Wood – Fang Okak- Gabon: Powerfull and rare Fang Okak figure form Gabon. The Fang peoples of Gabon believed that ancestral relics held great spiritual power. Byeri was a Fang association devoted to the veneration of lineage

3 days LeftAncestor Figure – Wood – Fang Okak- Gabon

Nkisi Kozo – Nail, Wood – Bakongo – Congo: Powerfull Nkisi Kozo from the Bakongo tribe of DR Congo. The Nkisi Kozo plays an important role in the Bakongo world of experience: this Nkisi statue is the connection between the worlds of the

3 days LeftNkisi Kozo – Nail, Wood – Bakongo – Congo

African Art Yaka chief staff with female figure scepter cane Congo DRC: Beautiful Yaka staff with a female figure Congo DRC 31.5 cm (About 12 1/2 inches high) Cute decorative sculpture Wood Average condition Reserve: $125.00 Shipping: Domestic: Flat-rate of $50.00 to

3 days LeftAfrican Art Yaka chief staff with female figure scepter cane Congo DRC

Initiation mask – Wood – Punu – Gabon: Wooden initiation mask from the PUNU tribe, Gabon. PUNU masks are thought to represent ancestors` faces. They are worn during funerals and by a Moukouji initiate who stands on stilts. This masks has

3 days LeftInitiation mask – Wood – Punu – Gabon

Pulley – Mossi – Wood – Burkina Faso: Ex Zemanek-Münster auction Provenance: Justin Barthels (Maastricht, NL) Mossi, Burkina Faso: a typical heddle pulley with ancestor figure. A heddle pulley, in which a reel runs over an axle

3 days LeftPulley – Mossi – Wood – Burkina Faso

Flute – Wood – Bwa- Burkina Faso: Old Bwa flute from Burkina Faso. Flutes were used across sub-Saharan Africa in as many different ways as their forms were varied: individually or in groups, e.g. as a signalling instrument, as a

3 days LeftFlute – Wood – Bwa- Burkina Faso

Shield – Wood – Songye – DR Congo: Large wooden shield from the Songye tribe of DR Congo, total length 97 cm. This traditional Songye shield was not only used as a defensive weapon, but also used as decorative and ritual mask and has

3 days LeftShield – Wood – Songye – DR Congo

TOP