Figure

Teke peoples, Mayama style, Republic of the Congo
19th century
Wood, cloth, mother-of-pearl buttons, accumulative materials
Height 49.5 cm (19 1/2 in.)
Collection of the Robert T. Wall Family

Provenance
French Catholic missionary, Congo
Eddy Hof, Netherlands
Robert T. Wall family

Photograph by Franko Khoury

The encircling frame around the face, large protruding beard, double coiffure, clearly delineated nose and, in particular, mother-of-pearl button eyes are characteristic of the Mayama style. This example is distinctive because the beard is extraordinarily large and the figure is seated instead of standing.