Stool - Wood - Luba - Congo DRC

This female anthropomorphic stool ( 25cm high) is from the Luba people, a Bantu-speaking group who live in south central Democratic Republic of the Congo.

A prestige stool symbolizing the important role of women among the Luba society

For the Luba, figurative stools are more frequently used by royalty. The support structure of this headrest features a kneeling woman. Luba artists are among the best in Congo.

The wood is well oxidized attesting some age. I would say around 1950. Part of the base missing due to insect damages, perfectly integrated in the custom made wood base ( included, see pictures)
Provenance: A Luxembourg collection who claimed the figure to be from the 1940's, but I would say more probably 1950's.