Female bowl-bearing figure "mboko" · D. R. Congo, Luba · ID: 3048943

Name: Female bowl-bearing figure "mboko"
SKU: 3048943
Availability: Discontinued

not available anymore

Size

H: 35,5 cm

L: 25 cm

H: 14.0 inch

L: 9.8 inch

Description

wood, black shiny patina, rest. in several places

The Luba usually turn to a “bilumbu” (fortune teller) in case of misfortune or illness. It is his task to contact the spirit world to find out the causes and recommend a remedy.

“Mboko” are an important utensil of the “bilumbu”. The bowl contains white kaolin (“mpemba”) and medicinal herbs. With this mixture, the diviner smears his face to bring about the trance state and to facilitate the recognition of the causes of the illness and misfortune.

The bowl carrier figures are used in ceremonies designed to honour the first mythical diviner “Mijibu wa Kalenga”, and his role as founder of the Luba kingdom. In this context, they also serve to confirm the authority of the king as leader.

The object Female bowl-bearing figure “mboko” with the object ID 3048943 was last part of the auction 98th Auction at March 26, 2022 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 291.

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