African Luba Figure
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Directory: Fine Art: Sculpture: Wood: Pre 1950: Item # 1445328
Directory: Fine Art: Sculpture: Wood: Pre 1950: Item # 1445328
Please refer to our stock # 1747 when inquiring.
L'Enfant Gallery
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1442 Wisconsin Ave, N.W.
Washington, DC 20007
202-625-2873
Guest Book
View Seller Profile
1442 Wisconsin Ave, N.W.
Washington, DC 20007
202-625-2873
Guest Book
$1,875.00
From our African Collection: A Luba (Lubua) figure from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 7 x 27"h.
"The Lulua tribes people, also known as Bena Lulua, migrated from western Africa during the 18th century and settled in the southern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire). They number 300,000 and live in small regional chiefdoms and in times of crisis elect a single common leader. The role of the village chief is to ensure juridical, political and social cohesion. In common with the Luba tribespeople, their social structure is based on a caste system which includes noblemen, warriors, freemen, foreigners and slaves. Their economy is mainly based on agriculture, but they also trade.
During the late 19th century, Lulua culture underwent radical changes. In 1875, the Lulua king, Kalambam, introduced new social and religious regulations, including the ending of traditional palm-wine drinking, hemp smoking and the burning of all cult carvings.
Lulua figures have complex scarifications and a typical pointed coiffure. In 1888, the use of scarifica¬tions was banned so any Lulua figures with elaborate scarification patterns must have been produced before this date. During the 192os, the tradition was reintroduced, but the patterning was simplified. "
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