Lulua Mbulenga Female Figure

A small wood Mbulenga female figure from the Lulua people of the DR of Congo. The figure holds a vessel in its left hand with traces of a white substance and has extensive scarification on its long neck. The figure has extensive red coloring from powder from the camwood tree. Mbulenga can be translated to mean good luck and beauty. The figures are associated with good luck and with child birth and small figures such as this one were often carried by young women to help with their pregnancy. They are considered to be imbued with the spirit of ancestors. This figure is mounted on a small square wooden stand. 

H. 6¼"; Base 1½" square