Luba Kneeling Female Figure Bowl Bearer Congo
Width: 10.0
Depth: 6.0
Description
Luba bowl-bearer figure, Democratic Republic of the Congo, carved in wood. The sculpture depicts a standing female figure supporting a bowl or vessel above her head with both raised hands. The figure is characteristically rendered with a carefully modeled face, full body, and emphasized breasts, reflecting the important symbolic role of women within Luba artistic traditions.
Among the Luba, female figures are frequently associated with concepts of ancestry, fertility, spiritual power, and the transmission of royal authority. Bowl-bearing figures could function as ceremonial or prestige objects, with the vessel serving as a receptacle for substances used in ritual contexts. The combination of the female form and supported vessel is an important sculptural motif in Luba art.
The figure displays an aged, darkened surface with natural variations in the wood, areas of wear, and a rich patina consistent with age and handling. An evocative example of Central African sculpture emphasizing the Luba appreciation for the female form and its association with spiritual and ancestral power.
Powdery substance inside the bowl.
Height (In): 14.5
Width (In): 10.0
Depth (In): 6.0
156718
Approximate Age: Mid 20th Century
People: Luba
Country of Origin: Democractic 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.