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Figure of Mother and Child (Phemba)

Arts of Africa

On View: Special Exhibitions, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd Floor
CULTURE Yombe
MEDIUM Wood
  • Possible Place Made: Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • DATES 19th century
    DIMENSIONS 11 1/4 x 2 3/4in. (28.6 x 7cm) mount: 12 × 4 × 3 in. (30.5 × 10.2 × 7.6 cm)  (show scale)
    COLLECTIONS Arts of Africa
    ACCESSION NUMBER 22.1137
    CREDIT LINE Museum Expedition 1922, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund
    PROVENANCE Prior to 1922, provenance not yet documented; by 1922, acquired by François Poncelet of Brussels, Belgium; 1922, purchased in Brussels from François Poncelet by Stewart Culin for the Brooklyn Museum.
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    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.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Special Exhibitions, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd Floor
    CAPTION Yombe. Figure of Mother and Child (Phemba), 19th century. Wood, 11 1/4 x 2 3/4in. (28.6 x 7cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1922, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 22.1137. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 22.1137_SL3.jpg)
    IMAGE threequarter, 22.1137_SL3.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2022
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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