AAA963 Hemba sculpture

An ancestral figure at the heart of Hemba beliefs

The AAA963 sculpture offered by Versmissen is a Hemba work in beige-toned natural wood. Originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it dates from the mid-20th century. The depiction belongs to the tradition of ancestral figures, a characteristic theme in Hemba art.

In Hemba beliefs, this figure was considered a spiritual vessel. It was intended to symbolically facilitate the connection between the ancestral world and that of the living. This function gave it an important place in rituals and concepts of the afterlife. The sculpture thus combines a human representation with a documented ancestral dimension, offering insight into how Hemba art conveyed the links between memory, ritual practices and spirituality.

Key features of the sculpture AAA963

• Hemba ancestral figure
• Made from natural wood
• Beige tone
• Originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Dating from the mid-20th century