A rare, ancient and important anthropomorphic statuette (maginga in the plural) in a seated position, the head and arms like a bust (perhaps male) looking to one side, and the body (female) with protruding ribs, seated on its knees, the visible sex and folded legs, turned to the other side. Daniel P. Biebuyck, the world's foremost expert on Lega culture, explains that the anthropomorphic figurines known as Maginga, made of wood, ivory, bone, and less frequently stone, clay, or carved from plant resin or ntutu (a hardened mushroom), constitute by far the most diverse yet enigmatic category of Lega artworks. They have been "carefully preserved and handed down from generation to generation, and it is prestigious to be the possessor or custodian of several figurines, as this demonstrates the high position attained by a person at the highest levels of rank". Each wooden figurine, like those made of ivory or bone, is given a name - usually in the form of an appropriate aphorism. However, it is only in the case of wooden figurines that "intense dramatic action is associated with the revelation and interpretation of these figurines". It would therefore be risky to attempt any interpretation here, especially as Léga works of art are polysemic, with each piece capable of conveying several meanings. However, it is worth mentioning here "Commandant Delhaise, who had held various positions in eastern Congo since 1896 and took command of the Warega territory in 1906, going on to write a monograph entitled Les Warega (1909)", in which he noted the existence of wooden and ivory figurines of both sexes (sometimes with double faces). Daniel Biebuyck continues: "For a long time, these important figurines were scarcely included in world collections; they were jealously guarded by insiders as expressions of group cohesion, major links with their predecessors, and profound expressions of essential values and historical interdependencies". The rediscovery of this work in the collection of Mr. V., who knew of its importance and rarity, and who himself kept it as jealously as a Bwami initiate, is a real event and a major enrichment for our knowledge of Lega art, for a careful study of all known Lega art collections, public and private, allows us to affirm until proven otherwise that this powerful and disturbing work is not only very rare, but absolutely unique, comparable to no other known work. Lega, Democratic Republic of Congo 19th century Wood, small visible old accidents, including one to the right eye, ritual removal from one foot, otherwise no missing parts and excellent condition, very fine old oxidation of the wood, very fine old patina. H. 24.5 cm Provenance: Acquired between 1956 and 1957 in Pangi territory by Mr. V., territorial administrator in Maniema between 1952 and 1959.