Small female bowl bearer "mboko"
D. R. Congo, Luba
sold
EUR 550
Provenance
B. H., Antwerp, BelgiumSize
H: 17 cm
H: 6.7 inch
Description
light wood,
Nice detail: the scarification marks of the figure are made of rattan. Remains of kaolin can still be found in the bowl.
For a figure of the same workshop see AHDRC 0029893.
“Mboko” are an important utensil of the fortune teller “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 illness and misfortune.