The Yaka people of southwestern Congo, on either side of the border with Angola, place reliquary figures commemorating important ancestors in special small huts, where these are worshipped and receive sacrificial offerings white kaolin and red redwood powder.
The present reliquary figure, carved from very hard wood, displays the typical features of Yaka sculpture: the offset hairstyle, small protruding ears, large eyes and an open mouth with teeth. The characteristic heavily upturned Yaka nose occurs mainly in small sculptures (such as crests, small figures etc.), whereas in larger figures it is mostly absent.
The present ‘bust’ with neck, head and crest was originally dyed black. Over time, it visibly received sacrificial offerings with white kaolin and red redwood powder (on the right side of the crest and at the back of the head) and hence newly coloured.
With good, partly shiny patina and minor age-related damage (superficial old tears to the face and crest, a minor crack to the left ear). The noticeable erosion and weathering to the lower end of the reliquary figure indicates that it was kept in the soil for a long period of time.
First third of the 20th century; H: 61 cm. (ME)

Provenance: Viennese Private Collection.