Luba Kipona maternity stool
Women in Luba culture and art
The African stools carved by Baluba artists are called kipona (kihona) or lupona. Experts consider them to be the main royal badge. It is therefore an essential item in prestige badges. They alone represent the authority and power of the Luba chiefs.
This traditional stool features a caryatid character, a woman, accompanied by her child. It is therefore in addition to a representation of maternity.
If the Luba sculptors realize so many female figures in their artistic corpus, this is due to the fact that culturally, the Luba have a matrilineal royal system: women of royal line often married heads of nearby kingdoms to extend power.
In addition, the Luba believe that women are uniquely placed to help rulers rule their kingdoms.
This remarkable stool a metaphor for the woman supporting the power and greatness of the Luba kingdom.
Restoration at the level of the kneeling mother's right leg and the child's arm.
01268
Data sheet
- Presumed dating
- Circa 1950
- Size
- 33,5 cm
- Ethnic group
- Material(s)
- Wood, metal
- Country
- Origin
- Gathered in situ
- Condition
- Restored
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Women in Luba culture and art
The African stools carved by Baluba artists are called kipona (kihona) or lupona. Experts consider them to be the main royal badge. It is therefore an essential item in prestige badges. They alone represent the authority and power of the Luba chiefs.
This traditional stool features a caryatid character, a woman, accompanied by her child. It is therefore in addition to a representation of maternity.
If the Luba sculptors realize so many female figures in their artistic corpus, this is due to the fact that culturally, the Luba have a matrilineal royal system: women of royal line often married heads of nearby kingdoms to extend power.
In addition, the Luba believe that women are uniquely placed to help rulers rule their kingdoms.
This remarkable stool a metaphor for the woman supporting the power and greatness of the Luba kingdom.
Restoration at the level of the kneeling mother's right leg and the child's arm.