Luba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, - Lot 205

Lot 205
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Estimation :
600 - 800 EUR
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Luba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, - Lot 205
Luba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cup-bearer, wood H. 46 cm - W. 37 cm The cup-bearer, sometimes nicknamed the "beggar," is a traditional motif found in numerous variations throughout the Luba region. Despite the diversity of forms, it always depicts a woman holding a gourd or a cup, called a mboko, in her hands while leaning on her legs. This object is part of the regalia of royalty and power, used during the enthronement of chiefs; but it is also linked to the art of divination when kaolin—white clay reputed to be the preferred means of communication with the guardian spirits of the Luba territory—is placed in the cup. The female figure is central to Luba art, not only as a symbol of fertility, but also because women are at the heart of Luba beliefs—as bearers of the power to give life and as the primary intermediaries with the spirit world. For these reasons, Luba female figures are ubiquitous, and their idealized depiction reveals their sacred nature.
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