This Luba mask originates from eastern Songye in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The history of the Luba people is known to be of violence and warfare, their artistic style is characterized by harmony. Luba artists were privileged people in the social hierarchy. Luba sculptures were characterized with intricate hair-dress, often in the form of a cross or cascaded, eyes shaped like coffee-beans, small simply sculpted ears and a finely polished surface. Most of the Luba carvings represented ancestral spirits and were used for initiation, medical and divination purposes. This small miniature sculpture represented a female ancestral spirit called vile who the Luba believe was the first woman and founder of the clan and guarantor of fertility and lineage. This is a female standing wooden statue with an intricate hairstyle, hands on the belly, shiny brown patina and of considerable age.
- Material: wood
- Age:50-60yrs
- Origin: Democratic Republic Of Congo
- Condition: Good
- SKU: LMIN-019B
- Weight: 0.2 kg
- Dimensions: 4 x 23 x 3 cm