1
/
of
6
Bembe Ancestor Figure — DR Congo - African tribal art
Bembe Ancestor Figure — DR Congo - African tribal art
Regular price
$200.00 USD
Regular price
Sale price
$200.00 USD
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Origin: Democratic Republic of Congo — Bembe peoples
Height: 61 cm
Material: Carved wood, dark aged patina
Condition: Age-consistent surface wear; small drilled marks present (likely former attachment points for ritual materials, now lost); stable structure
SEND ME YOUR OFFER FOR THIS PIECE. WANT MORE ITEMS: WE DO DISCOUNT ON MULTIPLE PURCHASES & COMBINED SHIPPING
About this piece:
A seated Bembe figure carved in a striking pose: both arms raised, hands grasping the sides of the head, framing a calm oval face with arched brows and a composed expression. The figure kneels on bent legs atop a carved rounded base. Small drilled dot markings on the torso likely once held ritual attachments such as beads or medicinal materials. Rich, deep patina throughout, with lighter wear at points of handling.
Cultural Significance:
The Bembe people, located along the western shore of Lake Tanganyika in eastern DRC, carved ancestor figures for use in family and community shrines, invoked for protection, divination, and communication with the spirit world. The raised-arms, hands-to-head gesture seen here is a recognized Bembe convention, generally read as an expression of concentration, supplication, or heightened spiritual engagement — distinct from the calmer standing postures of related Luba and Hemba traditions. The drilled attachment points reflect the common Central African practice of empowering a figure with added materials to activate its spiritual function.
Height: 61 cm
Material: Carved wood, dark aged patina
Condition: Age-consistent surface wear; small drilled marks present (likely former attachment points for ritual materials, now lost); stable structure
SEND ME YOUR OFFER FOR THIS PIECE. WANT MORE ITEMS: WE DO DISCOUNT ON MULTIPLE PURCHASES & COMBINED SHIPPING
About this piece:
A seated Bembe figure carved in a striking pose: both arms raised, hands grasping the sides of the head, framing a calm oval face with arched brows and a composed expression. The figure kneels on bent legs atop a carved rounded base. Small drilled dot markings on the torso likely once held ritual attachments such as beads or medicinal materials. Rich, deep patina throughout, with lighter wear at points of handling.
Cultural Significance:
The Bembe people, located along the western shore of Lake Tanganyika in eastern DRC, carved ancestor figures for use in family and community shrines, invoked for protection, divination, and communication with the spirit world. The raised-arms, hands-to-head gesture seen here is a recognized Bembe convention, generally read as an expression of concentration, supplication, or heightened spiritual engagement — distinct from the calmer standing postures of related Luba and Hemba traditions. The drilled attachment points reflect the common Central African practice of empowering a figure with added materials to activate its spiritual function.
Product features
Product features
Materials and care
Materials and care
Merchandising tips
Merchandising tips
Share
