unidentified Congolese

Description

The Kuba produce a wide range of prestige household items which are decorated with intricate incised geometric patterns derived from weaving designs. These boxes were used to hold red camwood (tukula), which is mixed with oil and applied to the body as a cosmetic. The crescent shape is typical of most Kuba cosmetic boxes. -- Professor Christopher Roy, School of Art and Art History, University of Iowa Contact the Stanley Museum of Art at the University of Iowa: https://stanleymuseum.uiowa.edu/about/contact/ The Stanley Collection single object 2007 Grind spices Southern Savannah Kasai/ Sankuru Rivers Utilitarian & /or prestigious version Status Everyday endeavor Kuba 250,000 BaKuba, in the Central Bantu cluster of languages Central Zaire, at the confluence of the Sankuru and Kasai Rivers Chokwe, Luba, Luluwa, Lele In the 16th century, the Kuba peoples migrated from the distant north to their current location along the Sankuru River. When they arrived, however, they found that the Twa already lived there. The Twa were eventually absorbed into the Kuba Kingdom, but retained some independent cultural characteristics. The height of the Kingdom was during the mid 19th century. Europeans first reached the area in 1884, but the Kuba, being relatively isolated, were not as affected by the slave trade as many of the other peoples in the area. The Nsapo invaded during the late 19th century and the Kingdom was broken up to a large extent. The rivers which define the Kuba territory provide fish which is largely consumed in the area. They also farm...