Ritual spoon - Tabwa - DR Congo

Tabwa ritual statue – Democratic Republic of the Congo

Carved wood, antique patina

This rare Tabwa ritual sculpture stands out for its slender, vertical silhouette and its great formal sobriety. The figure is organized around a long cylindrical shaft, crowned by a finely carved head with stylized features: narrow face, half-closed eyes, mouth slightly open, an interiorized and meditative expression. The deliberate elongation of the proportions gives the whole a strong graphic and spiritual presence.

The body, reduced to the essentials, emphasizes verticality and directs the gaze toward the head, the true symbolic center of the sculpture. The surface shows a dark, deep patina, with areas of polishing linked to ritual handling. The tool marks and uniform wear attest to ancient, repeated use.

Among the Tabwa, this type of sculpture was associated with ritual and initiatory practices, often linked to ancestors, the transmission of knowledge, and mediation with the invisible world. These figures could serve as supports of power, memory, or protection, used by members vested with spiritual or social authority. The hieratic posture and the contained expression reinforce the idea of a calm spiritual presence, yet charged with meaning.

Due to its pared-down style, its authentic patina, and its rarity, this statue is a fine example of Tabwa ritual sculpture, particularly sought after for the strength of its abstraction and the quality of its expression.

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