An ancient fragmentary ancestor statue, characteristic of the Kongolo region according to Jean Roudillon in 1974. Despite erosion and significant visible damage, this ancestor's sculpture still bears witness to the hand of a great artist and to the evolution of the great arts destined for the Hemba nobility through the ages. The perfectly preserved hairstyle of cross-braided plaits on the back is a sublime example, rich and complex. The stylized, notched beard is thick and highlights a powerful face with a particularly intense yet serene presence. Note the particularly "radical and modern" treatment of the ears, chest and elbow joints, which bring the arms towards the umbilicus, symbolizing lineage and implying an attitude of stability typical of the clan's guardian Hemba ancestors. Hemba, Democratic Republic of Congo Wood, accidents, visible wear, erosion and missing parts, very fine old patina. Height: 76cm Provenance: Boisgirad, Paris, "Arts Primitifs" (expert Jean Roudillon), March 11, 1974. Lot 81 Henri and Alice Dupont Collection, Lille, acquired at this sale Passed on by descent