Small, sculpted figures holding a vessel in one hand are called mbulenga, which

means "for beauty, for good luck" in the Lulua language, and were believed to protect

infants. The figure's reddish-brown patina is the result of being coated with ngula (red

powder from the camwood tree mixed with water). Its power comes from the contents

of the vessel, which would have included the hair of a female albino (considered a

blessing by the Lulua), the bark of a sacred tree (mutshi muabi), and the red feathers

from the tail of a grey parrot.

The sculptor carved this figure with special attention to carefully depicting details of

the hairstyle, clothing, ornamentation, and scarification that were in fashion. Having

one's body decorated with scarification made an individual bwimpe-that is, beautiful,

not only physically but morally as well. Scarification is produced by making cuts in

the skin, which must heal properly to leave smooth and shiny raised scars. An

individual whose skin did not heal properly was not considered to be a beautiful and

moral person. To give themselves a healthy glow, individuals applied a mixture of red

earth, oil, and kaolin to their bodies.

The present figure is female: a close parallel can be found in the collection of the

Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham, Alabama no.1985.335.