Democratic Republic of the Congo
19th century
Wood, pigment, shell or glass inlay, fiber, metal, and applied ritual material
Height: 8¼ in (21 cm)
Provenance: John Arieta, London
This compact standing figure displays inlaid eyes, carefully defined hands and feet, and a forward-facing posture characteristic of Kongo and Yombe figural conventions associated with protective, judicial, and healing functions. Applied ritual material is gathered at the front of the torso, with additional elements suspended at the back; brass tacks and surface additions are integrated into the overall form. Among works of this type, the carved body and accumulated material were understood to work together to activate the object's spiritual force rather than serve a purely representational purpose.
The small scale makes the precision of the carving especially notable, with facial modeling, limb definition, and surface treatment all rendered with care within the 8¼-inch form.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
19th century
Wood, pigment, shell or glass inlay, fiber, metal, and applied ritual material
Height: 8¼ in (21 cm)
Provenance: John Arieta, London
This compact standing figure displays inlaid eyes, carefully defined hands and feet, and a forward-facing posture characteristic of Kongo and Yombe figural conventions associated with protective, judicial, and healing functions. Applied ritual material is gathered at the front of the torso, with additional elements suspended at the back; brass tacks and surface additions are integrated into the overall form. Among works of this type, the carved body and accumulated material were understood to work together to activate the object's spiritual force rather than serve a purely representational purpose.
The small scale makes the precision of the carving especially notable, with facial modeling, limb definition, and surface treatment all rendered with care within the 8¼-inch form.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
