{"product_id":"luba-wooden-head-on-custom-base-congo","title":"Luba Female Head of Royal or Ancestor Figure on Custom Base Congo","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"flex-1 overflow-hidden\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"react-scroll-to-bottom--css-heriv-79elbk h-full\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"react-scroll-to-bottom--css-heriv-1n7m0yu\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex flex-col text-sm gizmo:pb-9 dark:bg-gray-800 gizmo:dark:bg-transparent\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"w-full text-token-text-primary border-b border-black\/10 gizmo:border-0 dark:border-gray-900\/50 gizmo:dark:border-0 bg-gray-50 gizmo:bg-transparent dark:bg-[#444654] gizmo:dark:bg-transparent\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"p-4 gizmo:py-2 justify-center text-base md:gap-6 md:py-6 m-auto\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex flex-1 gap-4 text-base mx-auto md:gap-6 gizmo:gap-3 gizmo:md:px-5 gizmo:lg:px-1 gizmo:xl:px-5 md:max-w-2xl lg:max-w-[38rem] gizmo:md:max-w-3xl gizmo:lg:max-w-[40rem] gizmo:xl:max-w-[48rem] xl:max-w-3xl } group final-completion\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"relative flex w-[calc(100%-50px)] flex-col gizmo:w-full lg:w-[calc(100%-115px)] agent-turn\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex-col gap-1 md:gap-3\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex flex-grow flex-col max-w-full gap-3 gizmo:gap-0\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"min-h-[20px] text-message flex flex-col items-start gap-3 whitespace-pre-wrap break-words [.text-message+\u0026amp;]:mt-5 overflow-x-auto\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert light\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStriking carved wooden female head from the Luba sculptural tradition of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, probably dating to the 19th century, possibly late 19th century or early 20th Century.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe sculpture is distinguished by an elaborate, carefully constructed coiffure pulled toward the rear, with multiple incised or braided sections and a raised element at the crown. Elaborate hairstyles were an important feature of Luba art, conveying feminine beauty, status, ancestry, and social identity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThe face displays a particularly strong Luba aesthetic, with a high, broad forehead, heavy arched brows, deeply set and partially closed eyes, a long projecting nose, narrow pursed lips, an elongated lower face, and a relatively long neck. The restrained, contemplative expression is especially notable. Traces of reddish pigment remain around portions of the eyes and cheeks, consistent with the use of pigment on Luba sculpture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eStylistically, the elongated facial proportions, half-closed eyes, prominent nose, and somewhat introspective expression invite comparison with the celebrated Buli \/ Ngongo ya Chintu sculptural corpus, one of the most refined traditions within Luba art. While the sculpture is reminiscent of that tradition, a direct attribution to Ngongo ya Chintu or the so-called Buli Master would require stronger corpus comparison and\/or documented provenance and is therefore not asserted here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThe head may originally have formed part of a staff of office, prestige object, or other larger ceremonial sculpture, rather than having been carved as an independent head. The long neck and relatively flat termination at the base support the possibility that it was originally incorporated into another object. The present black display mount is modern and separate from the sculpture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA compelling example of Luba sculptural aesthetics, particularly noteworthy for its sophisticated facial modeling, elaborate coiffure, expressive restraint, and stylistic affinities with the distinguished Buli\/Ngongo ya Chintu tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"Polaris-Box\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_ActivatorWrapper_1dzj6_55\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"PRODUCT.metafields.custom.height_in_-anchor\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_ActivatorButton_1dzj6_59\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_RowWrapper_1dzj6_4\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_FormFieldLabel_1dzj6_30\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"Polaris-Text--root Polaris-Text--bodyMd\"\u003eHeight (In): 9.5\u003cbr\u003eWidth (In): 5.5\u003cbr\u003eDepth (In): 5.0\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e156809\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"sku 156000","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51919669494055,"sku":"156809","price":450.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0826\/1015\/9911\/files\/IMG_8251_1755b22f-fce2-422a-b1d5-2840c3a36b57.jpg?v=1787597859","url":"https:\/\/africadirect.com\/products\/luba-wooden-head-on-custom-base-congo","provider":"Africa Direct","version":"1.0","type":"link"}