TEKÉ STATUETTE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO Made of wood and glass H.: 24 cm (9¹?? in.) A Teke figure, Democratic Republic of the Congo Provenance: Collection of Jean-Jacques Rotthier (1932–2009), Brussels, then passed down through the family This remarkably expressive Teke sculpture depicts a powerful male ancestor (inkwii), conceived as an intermediary between the world of the living and that of the dead, and intended to preserve harmony within the community. Its angular beard and characteristic lobed hairstyle unequivocally link this figure to the Teke artistic tradition. Its exact original function, however, remains unknown. A TEKE FIGURE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO Wood and glass H.: 9¹?? in. Provenance: Jean-Jacques Rotthier Collection (1932–2009), Brussels, then by descent This unusually expressive Teke sculpture represents a powerful male ancestor (inkwii), conceived as an intermediary between the living and the dead and intended to safeguard social harmony. The angular beard and characteristic lobed coiffure firmly anchor the figure within the Teke artistic tradition, although its exact original function will probably remain a matter of speculation.