Female figure - Mbala - DR Congo

Mbala female figure, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kwilu Region (southwest).

A rare anthropomorphic sculpture belonging to the classical and sought-after corpus of Mbala statuary, remarkable for the quality of its execution and the balance of its forms. The figure stands upright, in a stable and restrained posture, the body slightly bent, accentuating presence and monumentality despite measured proportions. The protruding belly, powerful legs, and feet firmly anchored convey a sculptural conception founded on fertility, vitality, and earthly grounding.

The treatment of the face is particularly meticulous and constitutes one of the strengths of this work. The almond-shaped, half-closed eyes are set in a face with well-structured planes, with pronounced brow ridges, a straight nose, and a finely sculpted mouth, giving the overall composition an inner, almost meditative expression. The architectural headdress, typical of Mbala figures, reinforces the verticality and places the sculpture within a perfectly identifiable typology. The gesture of the arms drawn back toward the torso participates in this codified reading, where restraint and symbolic power combine with elegance.

The antique patina, warm brown with deep undertones, shows wear and rubbing consistent with time and use, highlighting the volumes and attesting to a long history of handling. The overall piece is homogeneous, expressive, and highly legible in its stylistic language, fully corresponding to the rare Mbala figures of high quality preserved in private and institutional collections.

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