Luba (Baluba, Kaluba, Louba, Uruwa, Waluba, Warua), Democratic Republic of the Congo

Female Cupbearer (mboko). Inhabitants of southeastern DRC and northen Zambia, the Luba, have a great varity of carvings, distinguished by emotional intensity. Artists occupied a privileged place in the village hierarchy. The carver carried a ceremonial axe on his shoulder, an emblem of prestige and of the dignity of his position. The diviner used the mboko, a seated or crouched female figure holding a cup. He would shake it and analyze the position of the different objects in the cup in order to tell fate and fortune.

Material: hard wood

Size: H. 20", W. 6", D. 5".     

Price: $180+$32 (S&H)      [#B9L9S446]