Artwork Page for Female Figurine

Details / Information for Female Figurine

Female Figurine

late 1800s–early 1900s

Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo (most likely), Cabinda, or Republic of the Congo, probably Yombe-style maker

Medium
Ivory
Measurements
Overall: 12 x 2.5 x 4.5 cm (4 3/4 x 1 x 1 3/4 in.)
Credit Line
René and Odette Delenne Collection, Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund 2010.449
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print
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Did You Know?

This object is believed to be a portion of a spoon or a spatula. The position of the prisoner is believed to be a sacrificial victim.

Description

This female figurine may be a fragment of a spoon or spatula, but is not confirmed. Iconography of the human image is common in the art of Kongo-speaking peoples, however, this object’s function or purpose is unknown. The position of the arms has been interpreted as that of a bound prisoner while the positioning of the head represents a broken neck or severed head, thus identifying as a sacrificial victim.
A warm, variegated brown ivory sculpture depicts a woman standing atop a shallow, oval spoon bowl. Her head tilts right with large eyes and a cross-hatched hair pattern. She crosses both arms over her chest above horizontal bands encircling her waist. Her legs are slightly bent, ending in wide, blocky feet. The polished but textured surface features fine, cross-hatched lines inside the bowl.

Female Figurine

late 1800s–early 1900s

Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo (most likely), Cabinda, or Republic of the Congo, probably Yombe-style maker

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