

Small statue carved with the effigy of an ancestor. African Hemba art was only belatedly recognized and considered as a corpus in its own right. It was previously considered an integral part of Luba art. The two groups are nevertheless very close and share many stylistic canons.
The Hemba are best known for their depictions of ancestors, always male. These figures are called "singiti". They vary in size and sometimes we only find the head. This one has a beautiful complex headdress and a characteristic beard. Very dark and smooth patina.
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Small statue carved with the effigy of an ancestor. African Hemba art was only belatedly recognized and considered as a corpus in its own right. It was previously considered an integral part of Luba art. The two groups are nevertheless very close and share many stylistic canons.
The Hemba are best known for their depictions of ancestors, always male. These figures are called "singiti". They vary in size and sometimes we only find the head. This one has a beautiful complex headdress and a characteristic beard. Very dark and smooth patina.