Seated female figure with ritual container

Title of the work: Seated Female Figure with a Ritual Container
Population of Origin: Luba
Geographical Area: Central Africa – Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire), Katanga region
Date: Late 19th – early 20th century (stylistic attribution)
Material: Carved wood, dark patina (probably obtained from natural oils and pigments)
Dimensions: h. 92 x 21 x 21 cm
Original Function: Ritual object associated with ancestral memory or female authority within the chieftain’s cult (muLopwe). It could be a “mboko” container or a symbol of wisdom and political legitimacy.
Note: In Luba culture, the female figure is often a symbol of the custodian of the sacred memory of power. These works were consulted in divination rituals or as objects of prestige displayed by chiefs.