Luba Sitting Kasube Power Figure Congo

This compelling Luba sitting power figure, sometimes referred to as a Kasube, originates from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The sculpture features the iconic hands-on-head posture, a powerful visual symbol in Luba culture emphasizing wisdom, memory, and spiritual authority. The gesture highlights the head as the seat of intelligence and ancestral knowledge, underscoring the figure’s metaphysical and ritual significance.

Carved from a single piece of wood, the figure displays elongated proportions, refined facial features, and a composed, symmetrical stance that exemplify classic Luba sculptural aesthetics. Rather than emphasizing physical force, Luba artists favored expressions of inner strength, moral authority, and spiritual presence—qualities clearly conveyed in the serene yet commanding face of this work.

Figures of this type are traditionally associated with ancestral mediation, protection, and spiritual concentration, and were likely used in ritual or consultative contexts. The rich surface patina, along with visible wear and age-related cracking, suggests prolonged handling and use, consistent with traditional function over time.

This sculpture stands as a striking example of Central African art, balancing contemplation and power with deep symbolic meaning. An excellent acquisition for collectors of Luba art, African power figures, or works centered on ancestral wisdom and spiritual presence.

152909