The Tabwa (also called Batabwa) live in the south of the Congo, south-west of Lake Tanganyika. Tabwa figurative sculpture recognises two essentially different types: 1: Small ‘dolls’ with heads and round cylindrical bodies, but without arms or legs. 2: Whole figures stood on round plinths — detailed, naturalistic, with arms and legs. Placed in their own special shrines, these latter are ancestral or protective figures — as is the present, relatively small, female figurine. Made of very hard, light-coloured wood, originally dyed dark brown, the figure has well-delineated hairstyle (possibly a cap), carved out in relief with the typical, triangular Tabwa motif — the ‘Balamwezi’ motif, as it is known. The face features accentuated eyebrows, slit eyes, a small, wide nose and a pouting open mouth above a pointed chin. Recognisable on the cheeks again, as scarification, is the triangular 'Balamwezi' motif. Wide lines and small rectangles cover the tribe-typical scarification marks that run along the chest, abdomen and the figure’s two arms. A characteristic Tabwa figure with old and nice shiny usage patina, with some age-related damage: a tear on the right side of the head as well as earlier pieces broken off from the neck and the back, underneath the right arm and on the legs. H: 28 cm. Early 20th century. (ME)

Provenance: C. G. Müller Collection, Sweden; Austrian Private Collection.

Lit.: ‘The Tribal Arts of Africa’ by Jean-Baptiste Bacquart, p. 164, ill. 1, 4, p. 167, ill. C.