Handsome Male Hemba Statue 24.5″ – DR Congo – African Art

$450.00

Sold

SKU: 1013449 Categories: , ,
Discover African Art Handmad Badge

This statue was created in the style of the Hemba people of DRC. The statue depicts a standing male figure with handsome features and shiny patina. The statue measures 24.5 inches tall and weighs 13 pounds. The piece is in good condition with minor imperfections.

Type of Object

Figure, statue

Country of Origin

DR Congo

Ethnicity

Hemba

Material

Wood, Pigment

Approximate Age

Unknown

Height (Inches)

24.5"

Width (Inches)

8.5"

Depth (Inches)

8.5"

Weight (Pounds)

13 lbs

Overall Condition

Good with minor imperfections – see photos.

Tribe Information

About the Hemba People

“During the 18th century, the Hemba people, led by their chief Niembo, migrated from the south-west and settled on the right bank of the Lualaba River, in a region of fertile savannah. Today, they number 80,000 and are divided into large clans which, by definition, are families with a common ancestor. The hereditary chief of each clan is called the Fumu Mwalo and is the keeper of the ancestor figures. He renders justice and his status as clan head means that he has a privilege of receiving numerous gifts. The Hemba live mostly from farming manioc, sesame, yams and beans. Secret societies such as Bukazanzi for the men and Bukibilo for the women counterbalance the Fumu Mwalo’s power.

Two types of Hemba mask have been identified so far: the first is the rarest and displays a perfectly symmetrical human face with a small mouth and a linear nose set between two slanted eyes. The second type of mask imitates a monkey face with a large, pierced, crescent-shaped mouth and pointed nose. The function and meaning of these masks remain obscure.”

Source:
Baquart, Jean-Baptiste. The Tribal Arts of Africa. New York: Thames and Hudson Inc. 1998. Print.

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Be the first to review “Handsome Male Hemba Statue 24.5″ – DR Congo – African Art”