Preview
Description
Divination Figure
14" high
Circa 19th Century
Luba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa
Wood
A kneeling figure with an enlarged head and exaggerated facial features. The figure's oval face has enlarged, oval-shaped eyes, a splayed nose and parallel lips. The head is supported by a cylindrical neck which leads to rounded shoulders and bent arms. The hands are broad with fingers to help support the divination bowl (the Mboko), which is considered a symbol of royal authority. Luba artists created these figures for the purpose of seeking information about the future from supernatural means (divination).
Keywords
divination figure, mboko, Luba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo, African art, African artifacts, African sculpture