Friction oracle "itombwa" · D. R. Congo, Kuba · ID: 3034484
not available anymore
Provenance
Jean Paul Dubois, Paris, FranceSize
H: 9 cm
L: 45,5 cm
H: 3.5 inch
L: 17.9 inch
Description
wood, shiny brown patina, in form of a quadruped (warthog?), missing parts (three of the legs), cracks, slight traces of usage, socle;
regarded as infallible divinatory instruments, friction oracles were used to mediate between diviners and omniscient nature spirits in order to determine the cause of illness and appropriate courses of treatment and to expose dishonesty.
Comparing literature
LaGamma, Alisa, Art and Oracle, New York 2000, p. 44 f.