Mother and Child Figure
Kongo Artist, Yombe Region, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, or Angola
Details
Title
Mother and Child Figure
Artist/Maker
Kongo Artist, Yombe Region, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, or Angola
Date
Late nineteenth–early twentieth century
Medium
Wood, brass tacks, and glass
Dimensions
Contact the museum for more information
Credit
Fred and Rita Richman Collection
Accession #
2002.293
This sculpture was made to be used within the context of Mpemba, an organization concerned with fertility and the treatment of infertility, founded by a famous Kongo midwife. The female figure’s studded cap, chiseled teeth, and scarification indicate her aristocratic status. Both the brass tacks and the glass eyes were imported. The light-reflecting glass was associated with an ability to see into invisible spiritual and ancestral realms.
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Kongo Artist, Yombe Region, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, or Angola
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Kongo Artist, Yombe Region, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, or Angola