This wooden statue was hand-carved in the Yaka style. It is difficult to tell if this is meant to be a male or female figure since genitalia are absent. The statue features a beautiful patina and comes attached to a custom base. It measures 21.5 inches tall including base and weighs 5.5 pounds. There is some cracking, scuffing and general wear and tear throughout – please inspect photos carefully.
Sale!
Beautiful Hand-Carved Yaka Statue 21.5″ – DRC – African Art
$175.50
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| Type of Object | Figure, statue |
|---|---|
| Country of Origin | DR Congo |
| Ethnicity | Yaka |
| Material | Wood, Pigment |
| Approximate Age | Unknown |
| Height (Inches) | 21" figure, 21.5 including base |
| Width | 4" |
| Depth (Inches) | 4" |
| Weight (Pounds) | 5.5 lbs |
| Overall Condition | Some cracking, scuffing and general wear and tear throughout. |
Tribe Information
About the Yaka People
“Today, the 300,000 Yaka people live along the Wamba River. They migrated from Angola during the 16th century and settled under the control of the Kongo kingdom. In the 18th century their lands were annexed by the Angola-based Lunda people, but by the 19th century the Yaka had regained their independence. Yaka society is tightly structured and headed by a chief of Lunda origin, the Kiamfu, who delegates responsibilities to ministers and lineage chiefs, Unkwagata. Young men are expected to pass through various initiation stages, including circumcision. The tribe lives principally from hunting, although subsidiary farming is undertaken by the women. Yaka artistic tradition is rich and various, but much of it has been informed by their neighbours - the Suku, the Kongo, the Holo and the Teke. Nevertheless, Yaka statues do have common characteristics- an upturned nose and applied pigments.
Source:
Baquart, Jean-Baptiste. The Tribal Arts of Africa. New York: Thames and Hudson Inc. 1998. Print.