This statue was carved in the style of the Ambete people of DRC. The statue was carved similar to Ambete reliquary figures with a hole carved out in the back for ritual scarification material. The figure features a loin cloth made of animal hide. The statue measures 27 inches tall and weighs 8.5 pounds. There is some cracking, imperfections and wear and tear throughout – please inspect photos carefully.
Ambete Reliquary Style Decorative Statue 27″ – DRC – African Art
$140.00
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| Type of Object | Figure, statue |
|---|---|
| Country of Origin | DR Congo |
| Ethnicity | Ambete |
| Material | Wood, pigment, vegetable fiber and animal hide |
| Approximate Age | Unknown |
| Height | 27" |
| Width | 7.5" |
| Depth | 7" |
| Weight | 8.5 lbs |
| Overall Condition | Some cracking, scuffing and wear and tear. |
Tribe Information
About the Ambete People
“The Ambete live on the frontier with Gabon and the Republic of Congo, and are related to the Kota population. They carved three types of sculpture: heads, busts and full figures with a hollowed back. The latter have short legs, an elongated columnar torso and a flattened face with a triangular chin, an open mouth showing teeth and a triangular nose, all resting under a ridged coiffure. They are thought to have a connection with the ancestor’s cult – they were either used as reliquaries or placed alongside ancestor bones in a basket.
Heads and busts were probably positioned on poles and placed in front of the chief’s house. They may have had an apotropaic or emblematic purpose.”
Source:
Baquart, Jean-Baptiste. The Tribal Arts of Africa. New York: Thames and Hudson Inc. 1998. Print.
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