Hemba Ancestor AAA885 sculpture

A Hemba sculpture dedicated to the ancestral figure

The AAA885 sculpture offered by Versmissen depicts a Hemba ancestor in a characteristic composition. Its hands rest on the navel and its eyes appear half-closed. Carved from black wood, it measures 17 × 14,5 × 46 cm. This figure, dating from the 20th century, comes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Hemba ancestral figures embody the nobility of the ancestors and played a role in family ceremonies. They helped consolidate the lineage and the family's standing. Described as a spiritual vessel, this sculpture symbolically facilitated the link between the world of the dead and that of the living. Its frontal posture and contemplative expression convey the cultural elements associated with this ancestral representation.

Details of the Hemba AAA885 sculpture

• Depiction of a Hemba ancestor
• Black wood
• Dimensions: 17 × 14,5 × 46 cm
• Originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Dating from the 20th century