Tabwa Standing Female Figure, African MINIATURE - eBay (item 330375170964 end time Dec-07-09 08:44:49 PST)


This listing has ended. Item:Tabwa Standing Female Figure, African MINIATURE

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Africa Direct

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	Title: Tabwa Standing Female Figure, African MINIATURE Type of Object: Carving Ethnic Group: Tabwa Country of Origin: DR Congo Materials: Wood, pigment Approximate Age: Second half 20th Century Dimensions: Height is 7 inches. Overall Condition: Good. Most of our pieces have spent decades on at least two continents, and have been treasured by several owners. Small splits, scrapes and cracks are a normal part of their patina attesting to their age and extensive use. We examine each piece carefully when we receive it and report any damage we find in our listings. Please look carefully at the pictures which may also reveal condition and damage. Damage, Repair: General wear Additional Information: The Tabwa are a tiny tribe in the Upper River Region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly Zaire. Their carvings are ancestor figures, and they usually stand on a circular base with slightly bent knees and hands resting on their abdomen. Sometimes the hairstyle is a George Washington queue. Standing Female Figure. Tabwa. Southeast Democratic Republic of Congo and Northeast Zambia. The Tabwa number more than 200, 000 . Tabwa art has only recently come to be identified as a separate style often confused with the sculpture of their neighbors or others who took Tabwa identity. Chiefs were not powerful and local lineage heads exercised much authority. It was the lineage heads who kept small figures representing honored ancestors known as Mipasi on small shrines that they controlled. Tabwa figural sculptures represent ancestors who were to assist in daily activities and during the hunt. Tabwa art is both a symbol and an aesthetic statement as the figures are often elaborately scarified in a fashion known among them until the middle of the twentieth century. The distinctive facial scarification consisting of a number of lines along the sides of the face and along the forehead and abdomen were the means whereby Tabwa identified themselves to localities and social status. They are also a high form of body art or ornamentation. Elaborate and attractive patterns and designs were worked into the skin according to the Tabwa concept of ‘kulemba’ that reflect aesthetics, social membership and the abstract idea of order upon the chaos of nature. It demonstrates that a person becomes a complete adult when they are properly inscribed with the appropriate scars. These patterns and designs are collectively known as ‘vindala’ and will represent one’s advancement through life and within Tabwa society. Distinctive hairstyles among Tabwa men reflect status or membership in a hunter’s cult known as ‘buyange’, that required great efforts to braid, tie and decorate. I have examined this piece and agree with the description Niangi Batulukisi, PhD 019109 All content, including pictures, Copyright Africa Direct Inc., 2006 Add Us To Your Favorite Sellers! Please visit our About Us page.
	Africa Direct, Inc. is a Platinum Power Seller which has been selling on eBay since 1997 and has received more than 30,000 positive feedbacks. It is owned by Eliza and Sara, who began the company after spending a year wandering southern Africa in a camper van with their multi-racial family. They have been honored with eBay's Hall of Fame award, and by eBay Giving Works, through which they have raised more than $30,000 in charity auctions. Customer Service: We treasure our many long term customers, and will try to make you one of them! If you have problems, please tell us... we care! Handling Time: We ship daily except Sundays and holidays. Most orders go out the same day, and all go out within 48 hours. Returns: We want you to be happy with your purchase. You're welcome to return an item within seven days in the same condition you received it--just let us know you're returning it. You may have either a credit or a refund for your purchase price, not including shipping both ways. If your original payment was made through PayPal, we'll refund you through PayPal; if you paid us directly with your credit card, we'll refund the credit card. Combining Shipping: You are welcome to wait to pay, and to combine multiple items for shipping. We ask that you keep each order to ten days or ten items, whichever comes first--then start another order. When you're ready, just send us a list of item numbers and we'll send you an invoice. You can pay by Paypal or credit card. U.S. Shipping: We use a professional shipper who has worked with us for ten years. He and his staff take great care in packing our artwork, much of which is antique, irregularly-shaped, and fragile. The cost of his labor and the special packing materials he uses is reflected in our handling price. Our U.S. shipping charges also include insurance; we self-insure on smaller orders. For these reasons, our shipping and handling charges may be more than the price of postage. International Shipping: We ship dozens of international orders each week, to customers on every continent except Antarctica! The shipping charges included in our listings are for U.S. orders. Contact us for shipping charges to your country. We offer uninsured USPS First Class airmail, insured Priority airmail, and insured Express airmail to most parts of the world, depending on the weight, volume, and value of an item. We also ship via FedEx or DHL on request. Import duties, taxes, and charges are NOT INCLUDED in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding / buying. These charges are normally collected by the delivering freight (shipping) company or when you pick the item up -- do not confuse them for additional shipping charges. And please do not ask us to mark merchandise values below value or mark items as "gifts"--U.S. and International government regulations prohibit such behavior. Newsletter, previews and special offers: Want to be on our mailing list? Just ask!

Shipping and handling

Item location: Denver, CO, United States

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Shipping and handling	To	Service	Estimated delivery*
US $15.75	United States	UPS Ground	2-7 business days after seller receives cleared payment

*The estimated delivery time is based on the seller's handling time, the shipping service selected, and when the seller receives cleared payment. Sellers are not responsible for shipping service transit times. Transit times may vary, particularly during peak periods.

Domestic handling time	Sales tax
Will usually ship within 1 business day of receiving cleared payment.	Seller charges sales tax for items shipped to: CO (7.72%).

Return policy

Item must be returned within

Refund will be given as

Return policy details

7 days after the buyer receives it

Money Back

We want you to be happy with your purchase. You're welcome to return an item within seven days in the same condition you received itjust let us know youre returning it. You may have either a credit or a refund for your purchase price, not including shipping both ways.  If your original payment was made through PayPal, well refund you through PayPal; if you paid us directly with your credit card, well refund the credit card.

The buyer is responsible for return shipping costs.

Payment details

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Seller's payment instructions

You are welcome to combine items to save on shipping--just send us a list and pay all at once. We ask that you keep each order to 10 items or 10 days, whichever comes first-then start another. International customers, contact us for shipping. Thanks for buying from us! Our shipping charge includes professional packing and insurance. We self-insure on smaller purchases for U.S. shipping.