African Phemba Mother & Child Figure

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Description

A seated mother holds her infant across her lap, carved in warm reddish-brown wood with a deep, polished glow. She … Read more A seated mother holds her infant across her lap, carved in warm reddish-brown wood with a deep, polished glow. She wears a tall cap-like headdress and an open, gap-toothed expression, and a band of incised triangles and zigzags crosses her upper chest like a necklace. Small metal studs sit at each shoulder, and the round base carries a fine cross-hatched pattern that matches the chest. Everything is cut with confidence, and the surface carries the soft shine of years of handling.

This is a phemba, the maternity figure associated with the Kongo and Yombe peoples of Central Africa, where the mother and child stands for fertility, lineage and protection. At 15 inches tall and under 5 inches wide, it is compact enough for a bookshelf, a desk or a side table. Give it a plain surface and some room, and let the carving do the work.

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