Mipasi ancestor figure - Tabwa - Congo - SOLD
The Tabwa (also called Batabwa) live in the south of the Congo, south-west of Lake Tanganyika. Tabwa figurative sculpture recognises two essentially different types: 1: Small ‘dolls’ with heads and round cylindrical bodies, but without arms or legs. 2: Whole figures stood on round plinths — detailed, naturalistic, with arms and legs. Placed in their own special shrines, these latter are ancestral or protective figures — as is the present, relatively small, female figurine. Made of very hard, light-coloured wood, originally dyed dark brown, the figure has well-delineated hairstyle (possibly a cap), carved out in relief with the typical, triangular Tabwa motif — the ‘Balamwezi’ motif, as it is known. The face features accentuated eyebrows, slit eyes, a small, wide nose and a pouting open mouth above a pointed chin. Recognisable on the cheeks again, as scarification, is the triangular 'Balamwezi' motif. Wide lines and small rectangles cover the tribe-typical scarification marks that run along the chest, abdomen and the figure’s two arms. A characteristic Tabwa figure with old and nice shiny usage patina.Origin : private collection, BelgiumDating : 1970'sSize : 89 x 23 cmMaterials : wood, beads, horn, rope
00295
Data sheet
- Presumed dating
- Mid XXth century
- Size
- Ethnic group
- Material(s)
- Wood
- Country
- Origin
- Tribal art collection Belgium
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The Tabwa (also called Batabwa) live in the south of the Congo, south-west of Lake Tanganyika. Tabwa figurative sculpture recognises two essentially different types: 1: Small ‘dolls’ with heads and round cylindrical bodies, but without arms or legs. 2: Whole figures stood on round plinths — detailed, naturalistic, with arms and legs. Placed in their own special shrines, these latter are ancestral or protective figures — as is the present, relatively small, female figurine. Made of very hard, light-coloured wood, originally dyed dark brown, the figure has well-delineated hairstyle (possibly a cap), carved out in relief with the typical, triangular Tabwa motif — the ‘Balamwezi’ motif, as it is known. The face features accentuated eyebrows, slit eyes, a small, wide nose and a pouting open mouth above a pointed chin. Recognisable on the cheeks again, as scarification, is the triangular 'Balamwezi' motif. Wide lines and small rectangles cover the tribe-typical scarification marks that run along the chest, abdomen and the figure’s two arms. A characteristic Tabwa figure with old and nice shiny usage patina.Origin : private collection, BelgiumDating : 1970'sSize : 89 x 23 cmMaterials : wood, beads, horn, rope