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African & Tribal Art :
Hemba, Luba, Shankadi : Large Hemba Sculpture
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Large Hemba Sculpture - LSO.228
Origin: Gabon/Zaire
Circa: 20
th
Century AD
Dimensions:
55.5" (141.0cm) high
x 11" (27.9cm) wide
x 10.5" (26.7cm) depth
Collection: African Art
Additional Information: K
Location: Great Britain
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| Description |
The Hemba people of Gabon and Zaire are
a
large
group characterized artistically by ancestor
figures,
masks and a wide range of decorated
utilitarian
objects such as stools, thrones and tools.
Probably
their most characteristic cultural faces is
that of
the
ancestor – large headed, long-necked,
delicately-
featured male or female forms with ornate
coiffures
and serene expressions, which were kept in
domestic or centralized locales and
worshipped
through prayer and also through the
offering of
libations. Standing almost five feet tall, the
current
piece is a remarkable example of the
Hemba’s
dynamic adaptability to new
circumstances.
While
many traditions associated with the Hemba
have
disappeared, therefore, other persist,
including
acutely sensitive stylistic and artistic skills.
The
present piece is a fusion of traditional
iconography
with modern twists, such as the unusually
large
size
of the figure, the necklace of 12 large
wooden
beads, and even the fact that the figure is
clearly
circumcised (this tradition is not
immediately
apparent from examination of earlier
pieces). The
sculpture is notable for the delicacy of its
carving,
especially of the face, and also for the
detailing of
the two face-bearing beads on the
necklace. This
is
a beautifully-executed sculpture, and an
excellent
focus for any domestic setting.
- (LSO.228)
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