Standing female figure

Description

wood, shiny black patina, raised scarification marks, a smiling face, min. dam., fissures, slight traces of abrasion;
in Luba belief, beauty is not innate but is created over the course of a lifetime. Physical perfection reflects moral perfection. The body is a canvas to work on: to make oneself good looking by cosmetic adornments and manipulations which Luba people consider aesthetically and spritually pleasing.