Home table with a symbolic function

Title: Symbolic Home Table
Population: Luba or Hemba (DR Congo)
Cultural Region: Central Africa
Material: Carved wood
Technique: Full-round sculpture and bas-relief
Dimensions: H. 44 x 73 x 56 cm
Date: 20th century
Interpretation and symbolism: In addition to its practical function as a household support, the table possesses a clear symbolic value. The snakes represent protection, regeneration, and continuity of life, linked to the world of the ancestors. The facing birds symbolize duality and harmony, likely a reference to fertility and family unity. The central vessel evokes water or the vital substance, the source of life and abundance.
The object therefore reflects a domestic concept in which everyday life and the symbolic-spiritual sphere are closely intertwined.

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Home table with a symbolic function

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