Unknown
Male Ancestral Figure (esusany’o)Late 19th century

Artist or Maker: Unknown
Title: Male Ancestral Figure (esusany’o)
Culture: Boyo, Sikasingo, or a related community
Place Made: Democratic Republic of Congo, Southeastern region
Date Made: Late 19th century
Medium: Wood, natural pigment
Dimensions: 16 5/8 × 5 × 4 1/2 in. (42.23 × 12.7 × 11.43 cm) Mount: 2 1/2 × 5 3/4 × 5 3/8 in. (6.35 × 14.61 × 13.65 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Allen F. Roberts in memory of Mary “Polly” Nooter Roberts
Accession Number: M.2023.216
Classification: Sculpture
Collecting Area: African Art
Curatorial Notes: Little information has been documented on this type of ancestor figure, carved in the mountainous areas to the northwest of Lake Tanganyika and adjacent provinces. Similar figures exist in significant European and American collections and likely represent ancestral spirits assembled for chiefly or regional shrines. Patterns of scarification were incised on this figure’s pubis, inner thigh, and back, echoing the way human figures were enhanced with elements reflecting status and accomplishment. Traces of red camwood or iron oxide powder and local vegetable oil suggest an additional layer of beautification and a votive means of communication with the ancestor in the hope of procuring protection and future prosperity.

Artist or Maker: Unknown
Title: Male Ancestral Figure (esusany’o)
Culture: Boyo, Sikasingo, or a related community
Place Made: Democratic Republic of Congo, Southeastern region
Date Made: Late 19th century
Medium: Wood, natural pigment
Dimensions: 16 5/8 × 5 × 4 1/2 in. (42.23 × 12.7 × 11.43 cm) Mount: 2 1/2 × 5 3/4 × 5 3/8 in. (6.35 × 14.61 × 13.65 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Allen F. Roberts in memory of Mary “Polly” Nooter Roberts
Accession Number: M.2023.216
Classification: Sculpture
Collecting Area: African Art
Curatorial Notes: Little information has been documented on this type of ancestor figure, carved in the mountainous areas to the northwest of Lake Tanganyika and adjacent provinces. Similar figures exist in significant European and American collections and likely represent ancestral spirits assembled for chiefly or regional shrines. Patterns of scarification were incised on this figure’s pubis, inner thigh, and back, echoing the way human figures were enhanced with elements reflecting status and accomplishment. Traces of red camwood or iron oxide powder and local vegetable oil suggest an additional layer of beautification and a votive means of communication with the ancestor in the hope of procuring protection and future prosperity.