A Pende style figural panel. ++ A wooden panel with human figure, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pende style. 20th century. 48 3/4" x 13" x 4,
Provenance: The Inventory and Collection from the Estate of Merton D. Simpson. "The Pende tribe is divided into two groups, the western Pende are found in the Kwilu region, the eastern Pende are found on both sides of the Loange River, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Pende are most known for their masks, although they produce many other types of artifacts. The decoration of huts was very important to the eastern Pende. Door panels often depict animals, such as crocodiles, or figures of women, who are considered the founders of the clan. The human figures represent ancestral authority and community. The arms of the figure are usually at the sides or around the stomach, the legs are bent, and the figure wears a headdress. The panels operate on a functional and spiritual level, being both door jambs for the hut and representative of the power of the family.
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