unknown Master of BEMBE
People's Rep. of Congo
Wood, H 101 cm / 39.8 in.
Prov.: Collection Karl William Heiss, coll. 2010
This majestic king's figure is easily identified as Western Bembe statuary by the impressive beard and the distinct style with the long cylindrical body and the elaborately carved scarification marks in relief.
Large sculptures like this are extremely rare and generally represent highly ranked ancestors. They were used in divination ceremonies.
