id:			148166
accession number:	1975.164
share license status:	Copyrighted
url:			https://clevelandart.org/art/1975.164
updated:		2022-01-04 16:49:08.594000

Figure (bimbi), before 1935. Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Bembe carver. Wood and porcelain; overall: 20.3 cm (8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Katherine C. White 1975.164

title:				Figure (bimbi)
title in original language:	
series:				
series in original language:	
creation date:			before 1935
creation date earliest:		1925
creation date latest:		1935
current location:		
creditline:			Gift of Katherine C. White
copyright:			

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culture:	Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Bembe carver
technique:	Wood and porcelain
department:	African Art
collection:	African Art
type:		Sculpture
find spot:	
catalogue raisonne: 

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CREATORS

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measurements: Overall: 20.3 cm (8 in.)
state of the work:	
edition of the work: 	

support materials:


inscriptions:

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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS

* CMA 1968: "African Tribal Images: The Katherine White Reswick Collection," cat. no. 218, repr.<br>CMA 1976: "Year in Review 1975," CMA Bulletin LXIII (Feb., 1976), p. 65, no. 23.

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PROVENANCE

	Katherine C. White (Reswick)
	date: ?-1976
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


	Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH by gift
	date: 1976-present
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


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fun fact: 


digital description: 


wall description: 
Small sacred sculptures among the Bembe serve as symbols of spiritual protection for their owners. Substances are inserted into an anal orifice, covered with sacred white clay known as mukuya, and then consecrated by a priest-diviner (nganga). The beauty of the figure's strong, finely rendered features and intricate body marks enhance the owner's religious experience.
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RELATED WORKS

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CITATIONS

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