Although none of the manifold Luba styles can be referred to as representative, they still have one thing in common: The softness of the lines and the especially accurate design of the head and the hairstyle, which is mostly protruding backwards in a so called cascade hairstyle. The almostly completely or half shut eyes give the figures the impression of exceptional sensuousness.
“Daughter of the ghost” is the translation for this bowl carrier. Her function was to serve the medicine man, by receiving oblations in the name of the ghosts. Thus she had an important role. This could be enhanced to the status of an oracle, by moving an ancestral figure about in the bowl.
This fine handcrafted figure of a kneeling woman has a rare hairstyle variation in the Zela- style, a small neighboring folk of the Luba. Furthermore her complete back section is an example of the fine handcrafted art, which is exhibited here. Considerable signs of usage, the missing parts at the foot have been caused by insects excrement. |
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