Pfemba Maternity - Bakongo - DR Congo (No reserve price)
07
days
18
hours
49
minutes
27
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
No reserve price
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Selected by Dimitri André
Holds a postgraduate degree in African studies and 15 years experience in African art.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
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Maternité Pfemba, a Bakongo sculpture from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 28 cm high, 1 cm wide and 1 cm deep, weighing 1 g, dating to the mid‑20th century, provenance private collection, in excellent condition.
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Description from the seller
The Pfemba maternity figures (also written Phemba) are emblematic sculptures of Bakongo statuary, particularly among subgroups such as the Yombe, in the present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola.
These figurines depict a seated woman, often with her legs crossed, bearing or nursing a child, intimately linking the themes of fertility, offspring, and social continuity.
Formally, the Pfemba are sculpted with great care to the details of expressive faces, body scarifications, and clothing attributes such as the mpu hat, signs of high social status and cultural aesthetics; the eyes of the figures may be inlaid with contrasting materials to intensify their presence.
Beyond the visual aspect, these statuettes are not limited to celebrating biological motherhood: they embody a Kongo ideology of social power, the protection of lineages, and a connection with the spiritual forces that sustain the community.
The Pfemba figures have been compared in the literature to important symbols of social cohesion, reflecting the importance of fertility, the growth of the community, and the central role of the mother in the transmission of values.
Introduction to our expertise firm
Based in Belgium, our appraisal and sales house specializes in African and ethnographic art. A leading seller on Catawiki for over 8 years, we enjoy a solid reputation and a track record of several hundred sales with a customer satisfaction rate close to 100%.
We regularly assist with liquidations, estates, and dispersals of collections, in collaboration with individuals and families in Belgium and neighboring countries. Our approach is designed to be rigorous, transparent and accessible, with sales often offered without a reserve price.
Some pieces that have passed through our hands have joined international private collections and, for some, museum institutions.
Shipping insured within 24 hours, with careful packaging, insurance, and tracking.
Contact 7 days a week: we remain available for any questions or requests for additional information.
The Pfemba maternity figures (also written Phemba) are emblematic sculptures of Bakongo statuary, particularly among subgroups such as the Yombe, in the present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola.
These figurines depict a seated woman, often with her legs crossed, bearing or nursing a child, intimately linking the themes of fertility, offspring, and social continuity.
Formally, the Pfemba are sculpted with great care to the details of expressive faces, body scarifications, and clothing attributes such as the mpu hat, signs of high social status and cultural aesthetics; the eyes of the figures may be inlaid with contrasting materials to intensify their presence.
Beyond the visual aspect, these statuettes are not limited to celebrating biological motherhood: they embody a Kongo ideology of social power, the protection of lineages, and a connection with the spiritual forces that sustain the community.
The Pfemba figures have been compared in the literature to important symbols of social cohesion, reflecting the importance of fertility, the growth of the community, and the central role of the mother in the transmission of values.
Introduction to our expertise firm
Based in Belgium, our appraisal and sales house specializes in African and ethnographic art. A leading seller on Catawiki for over 8 years, we enjoy a solid reputation and a track record of several hundred sales with a customer satisfaction rate close to 100%.
We regularly assist with liquidations, estates, and dispersals of collections, in collaboration with individuals and families in Belgium and neighboring countries. Our approach is designed to be rigorous, transparent and accessible, with sales often offered without a reserve price.
Some pieces that have passed through our hands have joined international private collections and, for some, museum institutions.
Shipping insured within 24 hours, with careful packaging, insurance, and tracking.
Contact 7 days a week: we remain available for any questions or requests for additional information.
Details
Indigenous object name
Pfemba Maternity
Ethnic group/ culture
Bakongo
Country of Origin
DR Congo
Period
Mid 20th century
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Excellent condition
Height
28 cm
Width
1 cm
Depth
1 cm
Weight
1 g
Provenance
Private collection
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