Luba cup bearer - Baluba - DR Congo
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Selected by Surya Rutten
Has over 25 years' experience in Asian art and owned an art gallery.
Estimate € 280 - € 330
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Description from the seller
Origin. Democratic Republic of the Congo
Tribe name. Baluba
Material. Wood
Dimension. 45 cm
Shipping mode. Colissimo within 24-48h open.
This work is a bearer of the Luba bowl, often called Mboko (the name of the sacred vessel) or Kabila. Originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this type of statuette is one of the most iconic emblematic pieces of Luba art.
These statues were mainly used by the diviners (Bilumbu). The bowl was filled with white kaolin (sacred clay called mpemba), a symbol of purity, clairvoyance, and the spirit world. The diviner applied it to his face to enter a trance and communicate with the beyond.
The Woman as Mediator: In Luba culture, the woman is regarded as the receptacle of spirits and the link between the physical and spiritual worlds. She embodies the continuity of lineage and royal authority.
Protection: These figurines were sometimes placed in front of the home of a pregnant woman or a mother who had her first son to attract the goodwill of the ancestors.
Posture: The woman is depicted seated, legs extended, holding the bowl with solemn deference. This position expresses both humility and stability.
The Bowl (Mboko): It often features geometric motifs (chevrons or diamonds) reminiscent of body scarifications or Luba textile patterns.
Hairstyle and Face: The head is voluminous, with half-closed eyes in a coffee-bean shape suggesting introspection or a trance state. The elaborate coiffure is a sign of high social rank.
Ornaments: Here one notes a necklace of colored beads (red, blue, yellow), which is common to reinforce the sacred or precious character of the object.
Patina: The wood displays a dark, oily patina typical of prolonged ritual use where the piece was regularly handled or anointed.
For the Luba, the physical beauty of a sculpture (harmonious proportions, smooth skin, scarifications) is inseparable from its spiritual strength. The more beautiful a work is, the more capable it is of attracting and retaining benevolent spirits.
It is a prestige piece that served as much a religious tool as a symbol of power for chiefs and dignitaries
Origin. Democratic Republic of the Congo
Tribe name. Baluba
Material. Wood
Dimension. 45 cm
Shipping mode. Colissimo within 24-48h open.
This work is a bearer of the Luba bowl, often called Mboko (the name of the sacred vessel) or Kabila. Originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this type of statuette is one of the most iconic emblematic pieces of Luba art.
These statues were mainly used by the diviners (Bilumbu). The bowl was filled with white kaolin (sacred clay called mpemba), a symbol of purity, clairvoyance, and the spirit world. The diviner applied it to his face to enter a trance and communicate with the beyond.
The Woman as Mediator: In Luba culture, the woman is regarded as the receptacle of spirits and the link between the physical and spiritual worlds. She embodies the continuity of lineage and royal authority.
Protection: These figurines were sometimes placed in front of the home of a pregnant woman or a mother who had her first son to attract the goodwill of the ancestors.
Posture: The woman is depicted seated, legs extended, holding the bowl with solemn deference. This position expresses both humility and stability.
The Bowl (Mboko): It often features geometric motifs (chevrons or diamonds) reminiscent of body scarifications or Luba textile patterns.
Hairstyle and Face: The head is voluminous, with half-closed eyes in a coffee-bean shape suggesting introspection or a trance state. The elaborate coiffure is a sign of high social rank.
Ornaments: Here one notes a necklace of colored beads (red, blue, yellow), which is common to reinforce the sacred or precious character of the object.
Patina: The wood displays a dark, oily patina typical of prolonged ritual use where the piece was regularly handled or anointed.
For the Luba, the physical beauty of a sculpture (harmonious proportions, smooth skin, scarifications) is inseparable from its spiritual strength. The more beautiful a work is, the more capable it is of attracting and retaining benevolent spirits.
It is a prestige piece that served as much a religious tool as a symbol of power for chiefs and dignitaries
Details
Number of objects
1
Ethnic group/ culture
Baluba
Country of Origin
DR Congo
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Title of artwork
Luba cup bearer
Height
45 cm
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
