Central Africa

 Figure: Mother and Child, 19th century

Democratic Republic of Congo or Angola, Kongo peoples, 

Yombe group Wood, glass, metal, pigment

The sculpture here shows a maternity female who was part of the ideal Kongo model of ancient “beauty”.   The details on her chest, back, teeth, beads and hairstyle indicate her being part of the elite status.  If you look closely you notice that the mother and child have the same hairstyle. It was stated in the website that the, “This sculpture was likely placed in a shrine to honor the ancestral mothers of a lineage”.  Looking at this sculptor I notice something different from the ones I have seen, she has glass pieces in the front of her eyes which imply the sculptures memorial task.  The Kongo people believe that water is a representation of the family’s kingdom, which is what the glass is, suppose to reflect.

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/images/h2/h2_1979.206.29.jpg