Kabwelulu figurative calabash Luba Congo - SOLD
The cult of geniuses in traditional African art in Luba country
In the traditional Luba art, we find various objects related to the veneration of diversified geniuses. This calabash on which one finds a serene female statuette served as part of the worship at Kabwelulu. The cap is pulled back in a characteristic way. Arms bent, hands resting on the chest. The most famous of these objects probably comes from the collection of Mr. Tristan Tzara.
Other geniuses revered by the eastern Luba include Kibawa, a loosely rounded cephalomorphic stone in a cave on Mount Mugila; Mbuyu-Manga, large leopard of clay up to two meters long; Kalunga, Janiform pottery carved from wood; Kalema, wooden head fixed on an iron point surmounted by a knife; Mbuya, wooden statuette stitched on an iron point; Kilambo, an antelope or buffalo horn filled with human bones; Pungwe, guardian of the sacred blood, a sort of post, the end of which may be adorned with a string of pearls or cowrie shells; Kamwamba, statuette stitched on an iron tip at the bottom of a pot covered with a skin and used by wizarding diviners.
Provenance: private collection of African tribal art Jan Putteneers, Belgium.
Origin : private collection, J. Putteneers, Belgique*Dating : 1940Size : 24 x 10 cmMaterial : wood, rope
00441
Data sheet
- Presumed dating
- Circa 1960
- Size
- Ethnic group
- Material(s)
- Wood
- Country
- Origin
- Tribal art collection Belgium
The cult of geniuses in traditional African art in Luba country
In the traditional Luba art, we find various objects related to the veneration of diversified geniuses. This calabash on which one finds a serene female statuette served as part of the worship at Kabwelulu. The cap is pulled back in a characteristic way. Arms bent, hands resting on the chest. The most famous of these objects probably comes from the collection of Mr. Tristan Tzara.
Other geniuses revered by the eastern Luba include Kibawa, a loosely rounded cephalomorphic stone in a cave on Mount Mugila; Mbuyu-Manga, large leopard of clay up to two meters long; Kalunga, Janiform pottery carved from wood; Kalema, wooden head fixed on an iron point surmounted by a knife; Mbuya, wooden statuette stitched on an iron point; Kilambo, an antelope or buffalo horn filled with human bones; Pungwe, guardian of the sacred blood, a sort of post, the end of which may be adorned with a string of pearls or cowrie shells; Kamwamba, statuette stitched on an iron tip at the bottom of a pot covered with a skin and used by wizarding diviners.
Provenance: private collection of African tribal art Jan Putteneers, Belgium.
Origin : private collection, J. Putteneers, Belgique*Dating : 1940Size : 24 x 10 cmMaterial : wood, rope