Luba Shankadi Bow Stand Luanda

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.

This carved wooden bow stand is crafted in the distinctive Shankadi style of the Luba people, particularly associated with the Luanda region, known for producing some of the most refined sculptural traditions in Central Africa. The stand features an elegant arched form supported by two long, downward-curving legs, all decorated with finely incised crosshatched motifs typical of Luba surface design.

At the top sits a carefully carved human figure with a serene, composed expression and a traditional Luba coiffure. Figures like this often represent ancestral intermediaries or embodiments of female spiritual authority, central concepts within Luba culture, where lineage, memory, and sacred knowledge were symbolically tied to female forms.

Bow stands such as this were prestige objects used by hunters, chiefs, and titleholders to display bows during ceremonies or gatherings, reinforcing both rank and ancestral protection. The refined sculptural balance, combining geometric rhythm with expressive figurative carving, reflects the Shankadi hallmark of graceful proportion and spiritual presence.

This example, carved from a single block of wood, is a striking illustration of Luba artistry and the ceremonial objects associated with leadership, status, and ancestral reverence.

Height: 27.0
Width: 9.0
Depth: 6.0 

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