• Angola

• Mid-20th century

• wood, pigment, brass tacks, beads

• 36 x 2 x 2 in. / 91 x 5 x 5 cm

• Height on custom display stand: 37.5 in. / 95 cm

The two million Ovumbundu are the largest ethnic group living in Angola. They occupy the high plateau of Benguela where they settled centuries ago, and live mostly from agriculture and cattle rearing. Ovumbundu carvers are noted for their female figures which generally adorn everyday objects and also prestige objects such as combs, pipes, and staffs. As seen here, they often display a coiffure with backward-sept plaits joined at the end (Bacquart, The Tribal Arts of Africa, 1998).

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