Ancestor statuette - Wood - Miapsi - Tabwa - Congo DRC

Miapsi Ancestor Statuettes Tabwa culture, southeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Tanzania. First half of the 20th century. Wood with a shiny patina. Height: 25 cm; Width: 8 cm; Depth: 4 cm. Feminine figurine standing on her short and bent legs, separated of one another, with large feet resting on a circular base. The hands are placed on the belly, framing the navel in relief, the shoulders are angular and the arms are open-worked. The low breasts are depicted by two little cones overlooking an abdominal scarification forming a rectangular checkerboard pattern. This pattern is repeated on the face. It is in a rounded form, marked by a pair of almond-shaped eyes and a rectangular nose. The C-shaped ears are in relief. The hairdo is striated and the lines of the braids are oriented towards the neck. The body scarifications refer to important pieces of information of the Tabwa culture. The vertical ventral marks echo balance, the facial lines point to the spiritual centre. These ancestor figurines were transmitted from generation to generation and were stored in sacred places.