Additional Information: A stylized half figure representing a female body with lbody showing two pointed breasts, The timeless patina adds to the beauty of this well carved miniature. This stylistically unusual figure comes from an area of mixed influences sharing input from a number of groups. But details on this figure derive from the Bembe, a small ethnic group around Lake Tanganyika.
The carving shows much handling and good age. The full head is in sharp contrast to the concave face usually seen on Bembe figures. The curved shoulders attached to the body without transition and the arms deattached to the body show a strong and elongated body reminiscent of figures from the Bembe style. This is a small but strong example of sculpture from a complex region of stylistic interaction and its size would make it an impressive addition to any collection of African miniature used as ancestor figures.