Kongo /Yombe Maternity Figure, Mother and Baby, FINE Mother\s Day Special! Start Price USD 450.00 Current Price USD 450.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, July 17, 2008 End Time Thursday, July 24, 2008 Location Denver, CO See more about 'Kongo /Yombe Maternity Figure, Mother and Baby, FINE' Description Kongo /Yombe Maternity, Mother and Baby, 3 ft tall, FINE Type of Object: Sitting carved figure Ethnic Group: Yombe Country of Origin: Democratic Republic of the Congo/(Zaire) Materials: Wood, pigments and glass eyes. Approximate Age: Mid to Late 20th Century Dimensions: Height is 27 inches Overall Condition: Good Damage, Repair: Old insect damage with indigenous repair on one breast, several age cracks on lower portion of figure. Additional Information: Figure of woman sitting cross legged, holding her sleeping baby. She has scarification across her chest, shoulders, and back, and wears a breast band. The eyes are inlaid glass, and probably contain magical substances. The image of the sitting woman holding a child is a common theme found among a number of peoples of the greater region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo but most probably identified to the Yombe people. Figures among the Kongo and other people of the greater Kongo sub-groupings fall generally into a number of identifiable categories whose interpretation can vary and cross over as to function and meaning. Some figures represent elites and royals while the predominate number serve as power figures that would have magical materials attached or covered with the familiar metal objects beaten into their surfaces which led to their being identified as ‘nail fetishes’. Scarification around her eyes, over her breasts, shoulders and back was thought to be not only beautiful and sensual to touch but also served to identify her to her ethnic group and was a reflection of her social status or rank. Remains of pigment all over the body and her open mouth with teeth create a mysterious visual atmosphere and does establish an ‘otherworldly’ quality. This is a well-carved figure and the proportions and attention to detail are consistent with the best of sculpture from this area. As is true for so many African figural carving the head is larger in scale in relation to the rest of the body which is consistent with the belief that the character or being of the person resides in the head.Mother and child figure represents the female ancestor taking care of her descendants.This commemorative figure would have been used to honor the maternal spirit who brings prosperity and fertility. Among the Kongo people, woman is considered as the chief of the family. Thus, female ancestor is the guarantor of the fecundity and continuity of the clan or family. Such sculptures would be kept on a family or local shrine where she would be receiving sacrifices and offerings.Description written by Niangi Batulukisi, Ph.D. **W1799** All content, including pictures, Copyright Africa Direct Inc., 2006 Add Us To Your Favorite Sellers! Please visit our About Us page. SquareTrade © AP6.0 PesaMember Place a Bid!