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

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Figure of Mother and Child (Phemba)

This phemba portrays a mother seated cross-legged, nursing her child. The mother has elaborate scarification patterns, a beaded necklace, and an amulet tied around her breasts, and both mother and child have flaring hair styles—all of which indicate high social status. Such figures were concerned with issues of fertility and infertility. The mirror-covered cavities in the abdomen of the infant and on the mother's back are unusual and possibly added later. They hold magical protective medicines and may indicate that the piece was used in connection with divination practices.

• Culture: Kongo (Yombe subgroup)
• Medium: Wood, beads, glass mirror, metal
• Possible Place Made: Kongo Central Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Dates: 19th century
• Dimensions: 11 x 5 x 4 1/2 in. (27.9 x 12.7 x 11.4 cm)
• Collections: Arts of Africa and the Pacific Islands
• Museum Location: This item is on view in African Galleries, 1st Floor
• Accession Number: 22.1138
• Credit Line: Museum Expedition 1922, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund
• Image: 3/4, 22.1138_threequarter_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2006
Kongo (Yombe subgroup). Figure of Mother and Child (Phemba), 19th century. Wood, beads, glass mirror, metal, 11 x 5 x 4 1/2 in. (27.9 x 12.7 x 11.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1922, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 22.1138 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 22.1138_threequarter_PS2.jpg)
• Catalogue Description: Carved wooden mother and child. Mother, who is nursing child, is seated cross-legged, supporting child's head with right hand and legs with left hand. She has high, spade-like headdress, open protruding mouth revealing filed teeth, and glass eyes with black pupils. Ears are carved spatially and have pink bead earrings strung on wire through ear lobes. Over much of shoulders and back are scarification marks. Above breasts are a band and a necklace. Infant child, with mirror in center of abdomen, has hand on mother's stomach. Second mirror is attached with four nails to lower part of mother's back. There is a deep crack running down the figure of the mother from below her chin through the torso. Other cracks throughout figure and base. Often old crack repairs open up again and need to be refilled.