Kongo maternity. - DR Congo
04
days
22
hours
07
minutes
44
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
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Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 170 - € 200
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Description from the seller
Origin. Democratic Republic of the Congo
Tribe name. Bakongo
Material. Wood
Dimension 50 cm
Shipping method. Colissimo within 24-48h please open.
This piece is an anthropomorphic male statuette representing a drummer (tambourine-player), originating from the Kongo cultural area (located between the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo and Angola).
1. Scene description and symbolism
The main figure: The character is depicted crouching or sitting astride, a dynamic posture typical of representations of musicians or dignitaries in Kongo art. He holds between his legs and hands a large drum with a membrane (type ngoma or ndungu).
The drum: The front face of the drum shows a ochre/reddish coloration, evoking stretched skin or the use of ritual pigments. In Kongo tradition, the drum is not just a musical instrument: its rhythm serves to time initiations, invoke ancestors, and drive away evil spirits.
The miniature figure at the base: Under the drum, between the musician’s legs, there is a smaller figure (often a child or initiate) who seems to support or be associated with the rhythm. This may symbolize transmission, lineage, or the drummer’s role in rites of passage for young boys (such as khimba or nkanda initiation).
2. Stylistic features and morphology
The face and expression: The face is highly expressive, turned upward in an attitude evoking concentration or ritual trance. The mouth is open, showing carved teeth, an aesthetic marker traditional to Central Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa. The eyes are large, sunken, surrounded by whitish (kaolin) and reddish (tukula) pigments.
The headdress: He wears a conical headdress or a fiber hat (often associated with prestige or status of chief/initiate, such as the mpu or ngunda hat).
Scarifications and adornments: The upper chest and shoulders feature prominent beaded motifs or relief scarifications, symbols of beauty, maturity, and social identity.
3. Materials
Material: Carved wood from a single block (monoxylous).
Textile elements
Regional attribution
While the overall aesthetics belong to the broad Kongo group, the facial details (large eyes, open mouth), the conical headdress, and the drummer’s posture strongly recall the Yombe sub-group or neighboring peoples such as the Nkanu or the Yaka, who share these expressive faces with whitened eyes used during initiation ceremonies.
This is a very beautiful collectible piece, rich in anatomical and ritual details.
Origin. Democratic Republic of the Congo
Tribe name. Bakongo
Material. Wood
Dimension 50 cm
Shipping method. Colissimo within 24-48h please open.
This piece is an anthropomorphic male statuette representing a drummer (tambourine-player), originating from the Kongo cultural area (located between the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo and Angola).
1. Scene description and symbolism
The main figure: The character is depicted crouching or sitting astride, a dynamic posture typical of representations of musicians or dignitaries in Kongo art. He holds between his legs and hands a large drum with a membrane (type ngoma or ndungu).
The drum: The front face of the drum shows a ochre/reddish coloration, evoking stretched skin or the use of ritual pigments. In Kongo tradition, the drum is not just a musical instrument: its rhythm serves to time initiations, invoke ancestors, and drive away evil spirits.
The miniature figure at the base: Under the drum, between the musician’s legs, there is a smaller figure (often a child or initiate) who seems to support or be associated with the rhythm. This may symbolize transmission, lineage, or the drummer’s role in rites of passage for young boys (such as khimba or nkanda initiation).
2. Stylistic features and morphology
The face and expression: The face is highly expressive, turned upward in an attitude evoking concentration or ritual trance. The mouth is open, showing carved teeth, an aesthetic marker traditional to Central Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa. The eyes are large, sunken, surrounded by whitish (kaolin) and reddish (tukula) pigments.
The headdress: He wears a conical headdress or a fiber hat (often associated with prestige or status of chief/initiate, such as the mpu or ngunda hat).
Scarifications and adornments: The upper chest and shoulders feature prominent beaded motifs or relief scarifications, symbols of beauty, maturity, and social identity.
3. Materials
Material: Carved wood from a single block (monoxylous).
Textile elements
Regional attribution
While the overall aesthetics belong to the broad Kongo group, the facial details (large eyes, open mouth), the conical headdress, and the drummer’s posture strongly recall the Yombe sub-group or neighboring peoples such as the Nkanu or the Yaka, who share these expressive faces with whitened eyes used during initiation ceremonies.
This is a very beautiful collectible piece, rich in anatomical and ritual details.
Details
Number of objects
1
Country of Origin
DR Congo
Period
Late 20th century
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Title of artwork
Kongo maternity.
Height
50 cm
Sold by
