Mother and Child Figure
African Art

Mother and Child Figure
Artwork Details
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
Accession #
2002.293
Dimensions
12 3/4 × 4 1/4 × 4 inches
Location
On View - Stent Family Wing, Skyway, Gallery 401
Description
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.