Figurine
AF653
From: Zaire | Lower Congo | Belgian Congo | Pool Malebo (uncertain)
Curatorial Section: African
Object Number | AF653 |
Current Location | Collections Storage |
Culture | Basundi (uncertain) | Bateke |
Provenience | Zaire | Lower Congo | Belgian Congo | Pool Malebo (uncertain) |
Section | African |
Materials | Wood | Metal |
Description | In Bateke style; a Basundi style of figure-carving has not yet been established for this smaller group. This piece was made for use as a fetish. Standing anthropomorphic wooden figure; round face; prominent brow; protruding beared chin; triangular shaped eyes and nose; defined nostrils; open oblong mouth; tiny vertical rows of raised boxes representing hair, carved on top of head; knob protrudes from the back of the head; crescent shaped ears; long cylindrical neck; arms carved out from side of figure, bent at elbow; hands facing belly; lower part of body has the genitalia of a female (though figure is bearded); knees are slightly bent; feet are flat and nailed to a rounded base; figure is brown in color with a black base. See Af5195, AF4706 (cards). CF. (for this particular specimen) fig. 495A ( head and upper part of torso) AF653, however, has the chignon of most of the figures illustrated iin the "Annales", and, though beared, has the genitalia of a women. The attribution to the Basudi ( Basundi) was made by Torday: see AF4706 (card). Cf. also AF3679. |
Height | 19.5 cm |
Width | 6.2 cm |
Outside Diameter | 5.8 cm |
Credit Line | Purchased from J. F. G. Umlauff, 1912 |
Other Number | 1177 - Field No SF |
Report problems and issues to digitalmedia@pennmuseum.org.