made of carved wood, with different forms, handles and crests. Wooden bells, known as ‘Dibu’, were used in Congo for two purposes:
1: as ceremonial hand-bells, in order to ‘ring in’ particular rituals and to call ‘the spirits’;
2: during hunting: to maintain contact with other hunters and their own hunting dogs, or to hang the bells around the neck of the dogs. Thereby the hunter would know precisely where the dogs were in tracking the prey. The eight carved wooden bells of this collection show some very original examples. Bells without any decoration are difficult to define. Those bells, however, which display finely designed handles and decorated surfaces, all originate from tribes along the lower course of the Congo river, in western Congo: from the Bakongo, Vili, Yombe and related tribes: the round, black hand-bell with the finely pointed handle in the form of a kneeling woman, holding her breasts, clearly reveals the style of the Bakongo (or Congo) people. The three bells with the in part very realistically designed dog’s heads on the handles, are hunting bells and originate from the Vili or their neighbours, the Yombe. One of these three bells shows a face and a tortoise in relief on both of its flat sides. The second dog’s head bell has a bell body which is carved in the form of two folded (or ‘clapping’) hands. And the third, flat, round dog’s head bell bears a fine, geometric-linear incised decoration on both sides. Seven of the eight bells are complete, with their clappers. And all eight Congo bells display good traces of long usage, including patina. Only two bells have insignificant cracks. Otherwise no damage. H: between 25 cm (with female) and 11 cm.
All eight bells: First half of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance: Belgian Private Collection.

Lit.: ‘Sounding Forms. African Musical Instruments’ by Marie-Thérèse Brincard, fig. 83, 93, fig. 24; ‘Africa. Musica y arte’ by Elena Martinez-Jacquet & David Serra, ill. 83.