Holoholo Female Figure Congo Rohner Collection

Holoholo Female Figure, Democratic Republic of the Congo

A striking carved wooden female figure attributed to the Holoholo (Holo) peoples of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, distinguished by its elongated neck, compact head, deeply recessed “coffee-bean” eyes, broad mouth, and smoothly modeled body. The figure is depicted kneeling with the legs tucked beneath the body, prominent breasts, and one arm drawn behind the back. The second arm is missing. 

Particularly distinctive is the band of finely incised crosshatched markings encircling the waist and abdomen, likely representing traditional body ornament, birthing belt, or scarification. The sculpture retains a deep, lustrous black-brown patina, with extensive handling wear and areas of exposed wood that emphasize its age and use.

Holoholo sculpture developed within the broader Luba cultural sphere, and its artists incorporated and transformed Luba-related forms while maintaining recognizable stylistic characteristics of their own. Published examples of Holoholo sculpture are noted for their elongated necks, narrow coffee-bean eyes, broad thin-lipped mouths, scarification patterns, and smoothly patinated surfaces.

The figure is mounted on a later square wooden display base; the cylindrical projection beneath the figure appears to be part of the original carving.

The Holoholo attribution is supported by the figure's combination of facial characteristics, elongated neck, body treatment, and incised ornamentation. Comparable Holoholo figures and prestige objects are documented in major collections and the art-market literature.

The one eye is missing and the other is an Abrus precatorius: a toxic plant with brightly colored seeds used for jewelry and medicine. Learn about its ecology, distribution, toxin, uses, and cultural significance.

Provenance: John R. Rohner Collection
Rohner, a museum curator for decades, aimed his practiced eye for authenticity to African art beginning in the early 1980s. His passion for this art only grew through the decades he built his collection––always with an aim for a broad and representative array of pieces. The collection appears in his book, Art Treasures from African Runners (2000, University Press of Colorado). 

Item #197 on pg 128

One arm is missing; an old break

Height (In): 11.25
Width (In): 3.75
Depth (In): 3.0