Mboko Royal Cut - Luba - DR Congo

Figures, usually feminine, represent protective spirits; their arms embrace the cup while a support animal stabilizes the whole, recalling the mboko (sacred bowl) used in the divination societies Kilumbu, Bilumbu or Buhabo.

The vessel was filled with kaolin, symbol of purity and connection to the spiritual world, and was served during initiation or healing rites. The fineness of the carving, the engraved motifs and the ceremonial posture of the figures bear witness to the exemplary craftsmanship of the Luba, where each element reinforces the symbolic power of the cup as a vector of protection and transmission of ancestral knowledge.

Introduction to our house of expertise

Based in Belgium, our house of expertise and sales specializes in African art and ethnography. A leading seller on Catawiki for more than eight years, we benefit from a solid reputation and a track record of several hundred sales with an almost 100% satisfaction rate.

We regularly assist with liquidations, estates and dispersals of collections, in collaboration with individuals and families in Belgium and neighboring countries. Our approach is rigorous, transparent and accessible, with sales often offered without a reserve price.

Some pieces that have passed through our hands have joined international private collections and, for some, museum institutions.

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