Central Africa, south-western DR Congo, late 20th century. A small seated figure with a tall headdress, a long face and hands folded at the knees, carved in bone and stained a deep honey-brown, with copper wire binding. It is called a ‘lucky bone’.

Small carved charms of this kind are made throughout the Congo basin to bring good fortune, protection or healing, often after being ‘activated’ by a ritual specialist. Field collected, Rwanda, 2011.