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Mother-and-Child Figure, late 1800s-early 1900s (wood, metal, beads)
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Mother-and-Child Figure, late 1800s-early 1900s (wood, metal, beads)
491167 Mother-and-Child Figure, late 1800s-early 1900s (wood, metal, beads) by Congolese; h:53.40 w:13.10 d:14.60 cm; Cleveland Museum of Art, OH, USA; (add.info.: Wearing an elaborate lobed headdress and a beaded waistbelt, and having filed teeth and red-powdered skin, this maternity figure seems to have once carried an ax and a cup, wooden imitations of the two most important chiefly attributes. Perhaps together with a male counterpart, it was secretly kept inside the ritual house, serving as a guardian of the chiefs treasure. Its style places it in the westernmost corner of Pendeland, between the Lutshima and Kwilu rivers.
); Gift of the African Art Sponsors of Karamu House; African, out of copyright
Media ID 23494762
© Gift of the African Art Sponsors of Karamu House / Bridgeman Images
Democratic Republic Of The Congo Mixed Media Statuette Woodcarving Central Africa
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases a remarkable Mother-and-Child Figure, crafted in the late 1800s to early 1900s by Congolese artisans. Made from wood, metal, and beads, this exquisite piece is currently housed at the Cleveland Museum of Art in Ohio, USA. The figure portrays a mother adorned with an intricate lobed headdress and a beaded waistbelt. Her filed teeth and red-powdered skin add to her striking appearance. Interestingly, she once carried wooden imitations of an ax and a cup - two significant symbols of chiefdom. This suggests that she may have been kept hidden within a ritual house as a guardian of the chief's treasure alongside her male counterpart. The style of this maternity figure places it in Pendeland's westernmost corner between the Lutshima and Kwilu rivers. Its cultural significance lies within its role as both protector and symbol of power for the community. Gifted to Karamu House by the African Art Sponsors, this carved masterpiece represents Central African artistry at its finest. The combination of woodcarving techniques with mixed media elements highlights the skillful craftsmanship prevalent in the Democratic Republic of Congo during that period. Through this photograph, we are transported into another time and place where tradition meets artistic expression – reminding us of humanity's rich cultural heritage across continents.
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