Luba neckrest with two female figures, D.R. Congo, c. 1930

Description

Unusual figurative Luba neckrest from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, probably c. 1930, supported by two female figures who embrace each other and jointly uphold the curved headrest.

The headrest is carved from a single piece of wood and built around two women standing side by side. Both have one arm around the other, while with their free arm each supports one end of the curved headrest. The intimate posture of the two women forms the central motif of the object and gives the headrest a powerful and harmonious sculptural character.

The women are depicted with elongated bodies, pronounced breasts, large hands and feet, and highly stylised faces. Striking features are the carefully rendered, high-rising hairstyles, which are carved as separate volumes and decorated with incised lines. Within Luba sculpture, hairstyles received a great deal of attention and could refer to identity and social status. Beads are applied around the neck. The wood has a deep, dark and locally glossy patina.

Within the Luba sculptural tradition, figurative neckrests are a well-known and meaningful type of object. They served a practical function in supporting the head and protecting carefully crafted hairstyles. At the same time, they were personal objects to which status and spiritual significance could be attached. Female figures occupy an important place in Luba art and are associated with ancestors, spirituality, and the transfer of power and knowledge, amongst other things.

Origin & meaning
Luba and Luba-Hemba cultural region, Democratic Republic of the Congo, probably c. 1930. The depiction of two women standing side by side, embracing each other with one arm and jointly supporting the neckrest with the other, is documented within the historical Luba sculptural tradition. Similar compositions can be found in the collections of the British Museum and the National Museum of African Art of the Smithsonian Institution, among others.

Dimensions & condition
Height approx. 21 cm, width approx. 29 cm.

Carved wood with a dark patina, shiny in places, and beads around the neck. Signs of age and wear consistent with age and use. Good authentic condition. See the photos for a full impression of the condition.