Upper part of a dignitary staff ·  R. D. Congo, Luba · ID: 3033050

Description

wood, shiny brown patina, in form of a female caryatid half figure with accentuated breasts and parallel scarification marks on the cheeks, surmounted by a board-like element with geometrical incisions, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion, on wooden base;
the numerous dignitaries within the hierarchy of the erstwhile Luba-Empire - king, regional sovereign, village chief and clan eldest - disposed of a rich supply of administrative signs. The most frequently used signs of dignity are staffs of office, like the present one.