175 - Hemba/Luba Statue, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Hemba/Luba Statue, Democratic Republic of the Congo. A beautiful sculpture carved from dense, heavy wood depicting a standing woman, her hands resting on either side of a generously rounded abdomen. The head, with a serene face and lowered eyelids, is adorned with long braids falling behind the ears and down the nape of the neck. The conical breasts, slightly bent arms, and powerful legs create a balanced silhouette, with a remarkable sculptural presence. The wood has a deep, dark brown patina, locally polished, with signs of wear, cracks, and ancient imperfections. The simplicity of the modeling and the introspective quality of the expression bring this work close to Hemba and Luba female statuary, in which the female figure plays an essential role in representations of fertility, parentage, and the continuity of lineage. Formerly in the J. Lecluse Collection, Liège; acquired in 1975 Height: 44 cm