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A statuette whose function was to close the upper part of a divining calabash. It depicts a kneeling woman holding her breasts. The torso and sides are decorated with scarifications framing a forward-projecting navel. The round face is peaceful, smiling, and is topped with a traditional headdress. A hole can be seen at the top, which would have contained a small horn. The base is rounded and pierced with small holes (slightly missing at the back) which served to attach the statue to the calabash.
These calabash statuettes represented the wife of the diviner or the first diviner. She is believed to be linked to the power of royalty and served as an intermediary between the visible and invisible worlds.
Wood with a greasy patina (these statues were oiled), missing at the back of the base.
Height: 12.5 cm
Luba people, DRC
First half of the 20th century. Provenance: former Norbert Boutet collection
Ref: 65YQ1K4BQ2