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Artifacts - Figures |
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Name |
LUBA FIGURE unique |
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Background / Origin |
LUBA/Tabwa kneeling female figure, D.R.C. |
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Description |
This unique female ancestral figure was produced for a
personal collection of a Luba Chief. Villages are headed
by Chiefs who inherit their positions matrilineal, and
justify their power by tracing their decent back to the
original founders of Luba/Tabwa society. This is shown
through a collection of ancestral figures like this one,
always on display for every one to see. Ancestral
figures born through the ages, all representing the
Chiefs familial lines Ancestors are embodied in figure
sculptures, woman being a favourite theme with the Luba.
According to Luba myth, vilie was the first woman
spirit, founder of the Luba and guarantor of fertility
and the lineage. Women are cult guardians, and the royal
wives play an important role The research of
archaeologists clearly indicates that the Luba people
who have a vital sense of history, occupied land along
numerous rivers in the eastern part of the D.R.C. as
early as the 7th century AD. Their importance of memory
and history gave rise to the power of chiefs who
justified themselves by tracing their decent back to the
beginning. Luba ancestral figure sculptures as well as
being used for ancestor and spiritual cults to contract
profitable political alliances based on marriage. They
were also used for initiation ceremonies, medical and
also divination purposes. Sculptures carried magic
ingredients, on top of the head or in front of the
figure. This piece still retains a divination symbol a
20c coin dated 1909 fixed to the base in front of the
kneeling figure. Usually divination objects are removed
by the diviner after spirit or esoteric knowledge has
been received. |
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Reference Number |
22/73-38 |
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Height |
-285mm |
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Price |
US$ 1250 |
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