Phemba maternity statue - Bakongo - DR Congo

Phemba maternity statue – Bakongo – Democratic Republic of the Congo

A figure of fertility and transmission, at the heart of Kongo spiritual thought.

This Phemba maternity statue sits squarely within the great Bakongo corpus, where the representation of the mother and child goes far beyond a mere evocation of birth. Here, maternity embodies above all notions of genealogical continuity, protection, healing, and the bond between the world of the living and that of the ancestors.

The figure is depicted seated, in a stable, inwardly focused posture, holding the child against her. This attitude, recurrent in the old Phemba maternities, underscores the woman's fundamental role as a bearer of life but also of spiritual knowledge. The child, often associated with rebirth and the clan's future, is held firmly, almost ritually, conveying a codified relationship rather than a naturalistic one.

The face exhibits expressive and slightly accentuated features, with a slightly open mouth and a focused gaze, sometimes interpreted as a state of communication with the invisible. The treatment of the body, intentionally compact and dense, endows the whole with a restrained sculptural power, characteristic of works intended for ritual use.

The ancient patina, deep and nuanced, testifies to a long ritual history. It most likely results from repeated handling, anointings, and deposits of substances (oils, powders, ritual residues), giving the surface that satin, living appearance so sought after by collectors. The areas of consistent wear reinforce the piece's authenticity and age.

This type of maternity figure was frequently connected with fertility practices, protection of the mother and child, but also with cults associated with nkisi, where sculpture could play an active role in healing or intercession rituals. Through its formal balance and symbolic charge, this work ranks among the emblematic forms of Kongo statuary, today highly sought after.

A sculpture that is at once intimate, powerful, and highly representative, accurately illustrating the spiritual and artistic richness of the Bakongo world.

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