96 - A basongo or bayembe-style figure from the Songye people. Democratic Republic of the Congo, mid-20th century.

A basongo or bayembe-style figure from the Songye people. Democratic Republic of the Congo, mid-20th century. Wood. Provenance: A. Aróstegui Collection, Madrid. Measurements: 33 x 8 x 7 cm. Provenance: Estate of Ramon Martí Alsina and Ricard Martí Aguiló. Artistic and heritage collection originating in the legacy of Catalan painters Ramon Martí Alsina (1826–1894), a seminal figure of 19th-century Catalan Realism, and his son Ricard Martí Aguiló (1857–1935). Passed down and enriched across successive generations, the collection brings together works from the original holdings of both artists alongside acquisitions made by their descendants. Dedicated to preserving and recovering the family legacy, the descendants actively reacquired works by the painters as they entered the market, progressively expanding the collection to encompass paintings, sculptures, archaeological artifacts, and other items of artistic and historical significance. A wood carving in the round, depicting a figure with arms crossed over the abdomen, viewed from the front, standing on a small pedestal. These types of figures are used to seek protection and also as a therapeutic remedy to cure an ailment. They are therefore magical ritual objects.