Kneeling female figure with child ·  D. R. Congo, Yombe / Vili · ID: 3048672

Description

wood, kaolin, yellow ochre, black paint,

Female figures with child are known throughout the Congo region as “phemba”. The present figure is preceded by a small standing figurine of which it is not clear whether it actually shows a child or a female initiate.
Accordingly, the figure may have been related to the treatment of infertility or female initiation.

According to another interpretation, the kneeling woman symbolises a clan mother, while the small figure represents a village community receiving her blessings and protection.

Particularly striking is the large cross pendant on the back and the smaller one on the chest, which is fused with the right upstretched arm of the small figure.

The object Kneeling female figure with child with the object ID 3048672 was last part of the auction 98th Auction at March 26, 2022 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 324 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,200.

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Comparing literature

Felix, Marc L. (ed.), Kongo Kingdom Art, China 2003, p. 103