Seated Female Staff Finial

Ivory staff finials were among the most prestigious works of art in the Kongo Kingdom. They were made for high-ranking religious and political figures such as diviners or chiefs. While styles could vary significantly, those preserved in Western collections primarily focus on human and animal forms, and particularly on women and mother-and-child figures. The seated female figure depicted here is typical of representations on staff finials. Her androgynous form is only identified as female through the depiction of two small breasts. Her controlled posture and aggressive facial expression give a sense of contained energy. As conduits between earthly and ancestral realms, staffs channeled powerful forces. Thus, this finial's aggressive stance emphasizes its role in channeling and containing these otherworldly energies.

The concentric circles carved into the face, neck, torso, buttocks, and platform of this finial are thought to be a signature element of an artist known by the moniker, "master of the concentric circles." At least three other works feature this pattern, which may imbue the finial with apotropaic or protective qualities for its owner.