Artwork Page for Woman and Child

Details / Information for Woman and Child

Woman and Child

mid- to late 1800s

Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Yombe-style carver

Medium
Wood
Measurements
Overall: 26.2 x 9.2 x 7.4 cm (10 5/16 x 3 5/8 x 2 15/16 in.)
Weight: 0.28 kg
Credit Line
Andrew R. and Martha Holden Jennings Fund 2003.35
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Description

This mother-and-child figure was probably part of a cult concerned with the treatment of infertility. Both her jewelry and her seated pose indicate that the woman occupied a high rank in her community. Her miter-shaped hairstyle, chiseled teeth, and raised body scars--considered to be marks of beauty and perfection--signal that the woman incarnates the founding ancestor of a kinship group.
A polished dark brown wood sculpture depicts a woman seated cross-legged, holding a child. She features a tall, rounded crest, narrow eyes, and an open mouth revealing teeth. Geometric patterns cover her shoulders, with bands around her upper arms. One hand supports the child while the other holds a pointed breast toward its mouth. The figure rests on a rectangular base decorated with rows of carved triangles.

Woman and Child

mid- to late 1800s

Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Yombe-style carver

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