This statue was carved in the style of the Ambete (Mbete) people of DRC. The statue has typical Ambete features including a hollowed out back. It is believed that these statues once held the bones of ancestors. The statue measures 34 inches tall and weighs 15.5 pounds. There is some cracking, discoloration and wear and tear throughout – please inspect photos.
Ambete Statue with Hollowed-Out Back 34″ – DRC – African Art
$270.00
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| Type of Object | Figure, statue |
|---|---|
| Country of Origin | DR Congo |
| Ethnicity | Ambete |
| Material | Wood, pigment, string and cowrie shell eyes |
| Approximate Age | Unknown |
| Height | 34" |
| Width | 9” |
| Depth | 9" |
| Weight | 15.5 lbs |
| Overall Condition | Cracking, pigment discoloration 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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