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Between and Mortarboard

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7 UMMA Objects
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This double-faced sculpture has been carved from semihard wood. The male is distinguished by the beard, formed by a double row of small triangles. The female, which faces the opposite direction, shares a neck and trunk with her male counterpart. The heads are disproportionately large and both faces are ovoid-shaped, with a wide convex forehead and broad features. Their coiffures converge to form a single cone composed by stratified, semi-circular rings. A cavity on the top of the coiffure likely held medicinal substances, imbuing the figure with power. The male and female each have sharply protruding bellies, marked with round umbilici.  Both possess two sets of arms, which are detached from the body and situated on either side of their respective abdomens. Three of the four feet have broken off. The encrusted surface of the <em>kabeja</em> reveals that it was once the recipient of libational offerings.   
Hemba (Hemba (culture or style))
Power Figure
1865 – 1875
Gift of Candis and Helmut Stern
2005/1.226

Hemba (Hemba (culture or style))
Staff
Gift of Margaret H. and Albert J. Coudron
2001/2.27

Hemba (Hemba (culture or style))
Staff
Gift of Margaret H. and Albert J. Coudron
2001/2.70
This  stool features an elegantly carved standing female caryatid supporting the seat. It exhibits the characteristic hallmarks of a Southern Hemba style, which in turn was strongly influenced by the neighboring Luba. These traits include the broad, rounded forms of the sculpture, the disproportionately large head, the ovoid face with a subdued expression, a wide convex forehead, the brow ridge defined in relief, half-closed eyes, the elongated nose, the narrow mouth with clenched lips, the protruding abdomen with a pointed umbilicus, scarification patterns on the torso, and a multitude of sculpted bracelets upon both wrists.  Also emblematic of Southern Hemba sculptural forms is the elaborate pulled-back chignon hairstyle (<em>kibanda</em>), which forms a cruciform motif in the rear.  The figure also possesses conical breasts, short squat legs, and flat feet. The tips of the figure’s fingers symbolically carry the circular seat.
Hemba (Hemba (culture or style))
Chief's Stool
1915 – 1925
Gift of Candis and Helmut Stern
2005/1.224
This Hemba <em>adze</em>, or chief’s ceremonial ax, is decorated with an elegantly carved female head upon the end of its smooth handle while an iron blade has been lodged into its oval base. This <em>adze</em> exhibits the characteristic hallmarks of a Southern Hemba style, which in turn was strongly influenced by the neighboring Luba. The head bears an elongated, oviod-shaped face, a wide convex forehead, coffeebean-shaped eyes within ocular recesses, a triangular nose, and full lips. An elaborate pulled-back hairstyle in the form of a chignon (<em>kibanda</em>), features a cruciform motif. Four brass tacks that have been inserted into the extreme top, bottom, left and right points of the face echo this crucifix shape.
Hemba (Hemba (culture or style))
Prestige Adze
1875 – 1885
Gift of Candis and Helmut Stern
2005/1.225

Hemba (Hemba (culture or style))
Male Figure
1945 – 1955
Gift of Dr. Allen F. Roberts in memory of Sidney H. Roberts
1983/2.142
With beard, cruciform coifure, beads and fiber skirt.
Hemba (Hemba (culture or style))
Male Figure
Gift and partial purchase from the estate of Kurt Delbanco in honor of Nicholas Delbanco
2017/1.656
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