Hemba ancestor statue - Hemba - DR Congo

Origin: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Tribe name: Hemba
Material: Wood
Dimension: 54 cm
Shipping method: Colissimo within 24-48h open.

The decorative piece shown is an Hemba male statuette carved in wood.
​Posture and stance: The figure is depicted seated, hands resting on the lower abdomen. This attitude is typical of statues of ancestral chiefs (called singiti) specific to the Hemba tradition.
​Face style: The face displays the characteristic features of Hemba art, with a protruding forehead, almond-shaped eyes, a slender nose, and a mouth with prominent lips, often emphasized by an incised line suggesting a beard or ornament.
​Hairstyle: The subject wears an elaborately carved coiffure, often precisely sculpted, extending to the back of the head.
​Anatomical details: The musculature is stylized, with attention to symmetry and a naturalistic yet idealized representation of the male figure.
​This type of statuette was traditionally used in contexts related to ancestor worship to honor deceased chiefs and reinforce the prestige of the lineage