Luba Ceremonial Adze Handle with Carved Head Congo Rohner Collection
Width: 2.75
Depth: 3.0
Description
Luba Ceremonial Adze Handle with Carved Head, Democratic Republic of Congo
A carved wooden Luba ceremonial adze handle, retaining its finely modeled human head but lacking its original iron blade. The handle is carved with a long, slender shaft and an expanded central section designed to accommodate the blade assembly. The upper end terminates in a beautifully simplified human head with heavy-lidded eyes, broad nose, defined lips, and a finely incised coiffure.
Ceremonial adzes (kibiki or kasolwa) were important prestige objects among the Luba and could function as insignia of leadership and status. Unlike ordinary agricultural tools, these highly sculptural examples were often made for ceremonial display and could be carried or worn during courtly and ritual occasions.
The handle has a deep, dark brown patina and substantial evidence of age and handling, with scattered surface wear, abrasions, and natural age cracks. The original iron blade is missing, leaving the carved wooden haft as the surviving portion of the object.
The Luba, also known as the Baluba, is an ethnic group that primarily resides in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, specifically in the southern and eastern regions of the country. The Luba people have a rich cultural heritage and are well-known for their intricate and expressive masks.
The history of the Luba people can be traced back 500 years as they have dominated part of the Congo during that time. Luba society is still a large culture, and their influence remains significant. Luba and their closely related neighbors the Hemba, are some of the most important crafters and carvers in Central Africa.
Provenance: John R. Rohner Collection
Rohner, a museum curator for decades, aimed his practiced eye for authenticity to African art beginning in the early 1980s. His passion for this art only grew through the decades he built his collection––always with an aim for a broad and representative array of pieces. The collection appears in his book, Art Treasures from African Runners (2000, University Press of Colorado).
Item #782 on pg. 267
Blade missing; age-related wear, surface abrasions and natural cracking
Height: 17.5
Width: 2.75
Depth: 3.0
157291
Approximate Age: Early 20th Century
People: Luba
Country of Origin: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Material
Condition
Overall Condition: Good. Most of our pieces have spent decades on at least two continents, and have been treasured by several owners.