Sculpture Initiation

A Ngbaka ancestor figure with elongated features

The Initiation AAA1025 sculpture by Versmissen is a wooden representation of an ancestor of the Ngbaka people. Originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it dates from the mid-20th century. The wood has a brown colour, and its dimensions are 12 × 14 × 41 cm.

This figure stands out for its elongated features and a vertical scarification line positioned on the forehead. These two elements define the face and are the main visual characteristics specified for this sculpture. Its vertical format complements the elongated representation. The work thus brings together Ngbaka cultural origins, Congolese provenance and precise mid-20th-century dating, while retaining a composition centred on the ancestor figure.

Details of the Initiation sculpture

• Representation of a Ngbaka ancestor
• Sculpture in brown wood
• Dimensions: 12 × 14 × 41 cm
• Vertical scarification on the forehead
• Originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo