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 sacred material. The figure features a loin cloth made of fabric and vegetable fiber. The statue measures 28 inches tall and weighs 6.5 pounds. The figure has some cracks and and is slightly wobbly.
| Type of Object | Figure, statue |
|---|---|
| Country of Origin | DR Congo |
| Ethnicity | Ambete |
| Material | Wood, pigment, fabric, vegetable fiber, nails |
| Approximate Age | Unknown |
| Height | 28" |
| Width | 6.5" |
| Depth | 6.5" |
| Weight | 6.5 lbs |
| Overall Condition | Cracks and wobbly |
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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