{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O154296"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O154296/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BU3359/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BU3359/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2008BU3359","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2008BU3356","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O154296/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O154296","accessionNumber":"CIRC.290-1950","objectType":"Figure","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This elegant figure was created by an unknown Tabwa maker in the Lake Tanganyika region of southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo. It embodies the female ancestor of a Tabwa ruler. The creation of male and female ancestor figures by the Tabwa came about through changing power structures in this part of Central Africa. In the 19th century a group of elite Tabwa families gained leadership though their involvement in regional trade. As new rulers they wanted to prove that their right to rule was historically pre-determined so they commissioned local sculptors to create wooden figures that reflected their chiefly ancestry. A new genre of figure sculpture was established.\r\n\r\nAs ancestor figures these sculptures were passed down through the family. They were cared for by family elders who kept the figures in shrines within their compounds and made frequent offerings to them for the well-being of the family and its lineage. The figure’s powers could be heightened by being anointed with magical medicines by diviner-healers and they were used in a number of contexts: to protect the sick from evil forces, villages from unwelcome intruders and to ascertain the guilt, or otherwise, of a defendant.","physicalDescription":"A carved wooden figure with white glass beads for eyes. Elongated neck and body, with both covered with elaborate scarification, also face. Hands resting on stomach. Knees bent. Stood on small circular base.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"sculptor","id":"x43862"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"wood","id":"AAT11914"},{"text":"glass","id":"AAT10797"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Wood, with glass","categories":[{"text":"Africa","id":"THES49019"},{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[{"text":"Tabwa","id":"AAT16368"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2008BU3359","2008BU3356"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES395097"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure","id":""}],[{"text":"Mikisi","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Democratic Republic of Congo","id":"x37740"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1880-1910","earliest":"1880-01-01","latest":"1910-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by H.C. Coleman","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"37.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"(of base)","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Accessions register entry: 'Wooden figure of a woman. / AFRICAN. (Belgian Congo?) / Dimensions H 14 5/8\" / Bequest / Cracked and chipped / H.C. Coleman (deceased) c/o W. Deacon's Bank, E.C.3 / 13th December 1949 / [Authority] 49/1871'.\r\nBequeathed by H.C. COleman in 1950.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Figure, wood, a female ancestor, from the Tabwa people, Democratic Republic of Congo, early ca. 1880-1910","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Sculpture is the subject of a V&A web object story, 'A Tabwa Ancestor Figure', \n\nhttp://web.archive.org/web/20221215152315/https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O154296/figure-unknown/"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"female figure","id":"x43298"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Figure (<i>mikisi</i>)\r\nTabwa people, Democratic Republic of Congo\r\n1880-1910\r\n\r\nIn the mid-19th century some elite Tabwa families used their role in regional trade to assume leadership. Figure sculptures were created to evoke the high-status ancestors of these new rulers. This female ancestor figure has the hairstyle and skin markings of a fashionable Tabwa woman of the period.\r\n\r\nWood and glass\r\n\r\nMuseum no. Circ.290-1950\r\nBequeathed by H.C. Coleman\r\nFormerly in the collection of the Circulation Department","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["CIRC.290-1950"],"accessionNumberNum":"290","accessionNumberPrefix":"CIRC","accessionYear":1950,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-19","recordCreationDate":"2008-05-08","availableToBook":true}}