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Collections: Arts of Africa and the Pacific Islands: Figure of Mother and Child (Phemba)

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Figure of Mother and Child (Phemba)

Culture: Kongo (Yombe subgroup)
Medium: Wood
Possible Place Made: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Dates: 19th century
Dimensions: 11 1/4 x 2 3/4 in. (30.0 x 7.0 cm)
Collections: Arts of Africa and the Pacific Islands
Museum Location: This item is not on view
Accession Number: 22.1137
Credit Line: Museum Expedition 1922, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund
Image: Overall, 22.1137.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

Catalogue Description: Figure of a mother seated cross-legged on square platform, supporting child with adult facial features on her lap with left hand under his head and right hand on his leg. When Mother's figure is frontal, her feet are side view; breasts are prominent as well as raised scarification marks on chest. Other similar scarification marks are on upper back. She wears a loin cloth, bracelets, and a band around the top of her bosom and around her biceps. Her eyes are open; her nostrils are wide; and her mouth displays a top row of teeth. Her coiffure is high, the top edge of which curves down behind a small set of ears. Wood is light with several cracks.

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dw (4)
- cross-legged
- woodwork
- wood
- carved
ninakuriloff (2)
- mother and child
- Congo
moriah11 (13)
- child
- mother
- Phemba
- Figure of mother and child
- Yombe
- Kongo
- family
- baby
- wood
- woman
- female
- african
- 19th century
Armchair Caver (4)
- mother
- child
- wood
- breasts

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