The post Fighters appeared first on Antikelen.

The post Modernist female figure appeared first on Antikelen.

The post Buddha, Thailand, 19th ct. appeared first on Antikelen.

This specific type of sculpture served young women and girls as a protective amulet and ritual aid to ensure fertility, healthy motherhood and easy childbirth. Women carried the statuettes with them, cared for them as if they were real children and believed that through them they communicated with the spiritual forces responsible for the continuity of the family.

Congo, Africa, early 20th century, wood, h. 38 cm

The post Ritual statue, Congo appeared first on Antikelen.

Mboko vessels were among the most important objects of power and oracles in the Luba kingdom. The kneeling female figure represents a spiritual intermediary, as women were perceived in Luba culture as the only beings capable of preserving the spirits of their ancestors and divine power in their bodies. The mboko bowl served as a place for oracles to store sacred white clay (kaolin). It was applied to the face of a soothsayer or ruler during rituals, enabling communication with the spirit world, purification, divination of the future, and legitimization of royal authority.

Congo, Africa, 1st half of the 20th century, h. 34 cm

The post Carved statue, Luba, Congo appeared first on Antikelen.

In traditional Angolan art, female figures have a fundamental ritual significance. They represent revered ancestors, founders of lineages, or protective deities of fertility and motherhood. The position of the hands resting on the stomach symbolizes the continuity of life, pregnancy, and ancestral protection. These statues were kept in ancestral sanctuaries, where they served as a medium for communication with the spiritual world, to ensure the prosperity of the community, and safe childbirth.

Angola, Africa, early 20th century, wood, h. 75 cm

The post Figural sculpture, Angola appeared first on Antikelen.

In the traditional context of the ethnic groups of the Chad region, these equestrian sculptures served as powerful ritual objects. According to the natives, this statue gave protection. It was supposed to ensure the favor of spirits, protection from enemies and bring prosperity, safety and luck to its owners during hunting and in battle.

Chad, Africa, bronze, early 20th century, h. 53 cm

The post Three hunters on a horse, Chad appeared first on Antikelen.

The post Buddha The Bhumisparsha Mudra appeared first on Antikelen.

Tibet, 17th century, bronze, h. 11,6 cm

The post Buddha 17th century appeared first on Antikelen.

The post Alberto Giacometti, Standing woman appeared first on Antikelen.