Figure Statue Of Maternity Yombé Phemba Kongo Democratic Republic Of The Congo

Superb maternity statue of Yombe or Kongo twins. Kongo artistsKongo artists are famous for their maternity statues symbolizing fertility,icon of Kongo art with nail fetishes. They must representrepresent feminine beauty, they are usually statues in light wood25 to 30 cm high, depicting a nude woman with her back straight, seated on aback, seated on a pedestal with both legs crossed, holding herher newborn child, but models with twins, as shown here, are exceptional.exceptional.
She wears the royal cap called mpu, and her face never looks at the child.never looks at the child, she is the subject, not the child, as in our Virgin and Child .
She has pointed teeth, a Kongo custom, and glass eyes.Kongos, and glass eyes (children's too) to give her life and presence.and presence, and beautiful geometric scarification marks on her belly and arms.
The Yombé and Kongo are matriarchal. Women play a leading socialpolitical and religious role!
Note the base of the pedestalis not the work of termites, but of water.must have been exposed to high humidity. Height 53 cm withwooden base.