Hemba Ancestor Statue - DR Congo
09
days
07
hours
48
minutes
12
seconds
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€ 1
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A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 240 - € 270
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Description from the seller
Origin. Democratic Republic of the Congo
Name of tribe. Hemba
Material. Wood
Dimension 48 cm
Shipping method. Colissimo in 24-48h open
This decorative sculpture is a classical representation of the art of the Hemba ethnicity (a Central African population living mainly in the southeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo).
It is more precisely a Singiti (or Ancestral Effigy), a major work in the traditional African artistic corpus.
1. The Head and the Face (The expression of serenity)
Facial expression: The face exudes a strong sense of serenity, dignity, and inner balance, which is typical of the ancestors cult among the Hemba. The eyes are closed or half-closed, in the shape of a slit or a coffee grain, evoking meditation, the wisdom of death, and the link to the spiritual world.
The hair: It is voluminous and extends to the back of the skull (often sculpted in the form of a cross or a diadem at the back, not visible here), which testifies to the high social rank of the represented figure.
The beard: A finely stylized and incised beard (as a collar) surrounds the chin, emphasizing the status of chief or notable of the ancestor.
2. The Body and Posture (Static power)
Posture: The figure is represented standing, in a very frontal and symmetrical manner. The chest is elongated, the shoulders are angular and straight, giving the statue a strong architectural presence.
Arms and hands: The arms, slightly bent, descend along the body and the hands delicately come to rest on either side of the lower abdomen, highlighting the prominent navel. This gesture symbolizes the continuity of the family lineage and filiation.
Nudity: The male figure is depicted naked, emphasizing the attributes of virility, a symbol of the fertility of the lineage he protects from the world of the ancestors. The legs are bent and anchored in a circular base of origin.
Cultural context: Singiti statues are not idols, but receptacles for the spirit of a revered ancestor (often a clan chief). They were kept by the family heads in sacred funeral huts. They served to legitimize the power of the current chief by recalling the greatness of his predecessors and were invoked during crises or to ensure fertility of lands and women.
Note: The statue is here fixed on a modern black wooden display base to ensure its stability.
Origin. Democratic Republic of the Congo
Name of tribe. Hemba
Material. Wood
Dimension 48 cm
Shipping method. Colissimo in 24-48h open
This decorative sculpture is a classical representation of the art of the Hemba ethnicity (a Central African population living mainly in the southeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo).
It is more precisely a Singiti (or Ancestral Effigy), a major work in the traditional African artistic corpus.
1. The Head and the Face (The expression of serenity)
Facial expression: The face exudes a strong sense of serenity, dignity, and inner balance, which is typical of the ancestors cult among the Hemba. The eyes are closed or half-closed, in the shape of a slit or a coffee grain, evoking meditation, the wisdom of death, and the link to the spiritual world.
The hair: It is voluminous and extends to the back of the skull (often sculpted in the form of a cross or a diadem at the back, not visible here), which testifies to the high social rank of the represented figure.
The beard: A finely stylized and incised beard (as a collar) surrounds the chin, emphasizing the status of chief or notable of the ancestor.
2. The Body and Posture (Static power)
Posture: The figure is represented standing, in a very frontal and symmetrical manner. The chest is elongated, the shoulders are angular and straight, giving the statue a strong architectural presence.
Arms and hands: The arms, slightly bent, descend along the body and the hands delicately come to rest on either side of the lower abdomen, highlighting the prominent navel. This gesture symbolizes the continuity of the family lineage and filiation.
Nudity: The male figure is depicted naked, emphasizing the attributes of virility, a symbol of the fertility of the lineage he protects from the world of the ancestors. The legs are bent and anchored in a circular base of origin.
Cultural context: Singiti statues are not idols, but receptacles for the spirit of a revered ancestor (often a clan chief). They were kept by the family heads in sacred funeral huts. They served to legitimize the power of the current chief by recalling the greatness of his predecessors and were invoked during crises or to ensure fertility of lands and women.
Note: The statue is here fixed on a modern black wooden display base to ensure its stability.
Details
Number of objects
1
Country of Origin
DR Congo
Period
Late 20th century
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
Yes
Condition
Good condition
Title of artwork
Hemba Ancestor Statue
Height
48 cm
Sold by
