Kuba People Folk Art

While shield and spear were central to African combat, this iron example was most likely made to serve as a piece of trade currency. Many pre-colonization African currencies were modeled after objects of inherent value, resulting in sculptural combinations of function and beauty. This large iron spear dates to the early 20th century and is attributed to the Kuba people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Secured to a narrow handle of iron and wood, the flattened blade has an elegant, sloping silhouette, subtly textured with raised lines and a rusted, antique patina. Forged as a broadleaf spear, the weapon contrasts a violent potential with images of peaceful branches swaying in the wind. We've set this unusual Kuba spear...

20th century Prestige cloth, Shoowa people, Kuba Kingdom, D. R. Congo A syncopated pattern of opposing forces lends this prestige cloth a sense of movement both horizontally and v...

The African Kuba Bwoom tribal mask is the oldest known mask, the Kuba bwoom mask. The materials used for the realization of the Mask are: Wood, colors and vibrates plants, caures, beads, animal hair. In dance it expresses exuberance and joy. The style is similar to that of the middle Kasai. This mask is a helmet with animal hair, carved with a very wide forehead and hollow cheeks that are announced by motifs or dashes and beads. The mouth of the mask is very pronounced carved in wood and then applied on the mask. To distinguish the forehead in different areas are used black and white beads to draw attention to other aspects of the face such as the nose and chin. The entire edge of the chin is surrounded by beads of various colors. The person wearing the mask cannot look because there are no holes for the eyes present; the mask must create the feeling of being blind. Some masks similar to the bwoom mask include the funny mask, the ram mask and initiation masks such as Nnup. The real Kuba masks...

Sweet worn, polished and smoothed Kuba ceremonial serving platter with handle and incised Classic royal Kuba knot pattern on one side. Cra...

Antique Nepalese Butter Churn Handle. Known as a Ghurra, individually carved from a single piece of wood having different geometric forms, a circle, a rec...

An old carved wood Nepal, North India or other Himalayan culture butter churn handle called a ghurra. Created in the early 20th century. The handle with braided columns rising to a h...

Mid-20th Century Dance Skirt Panel, Kuba, D.R.Congo A wonderful, almost op-art Kuba dance skirt panel with an appliqued design of four squared spirals. Th...

Hand carved Maori sculpture of a hunter carrying a crocodile and fish.

In African art from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Kuba, a famous ethnic group from Kasaï, are known for their mastery of basketry, among other methods of creating works. ...

Cut-Pile Raffia Panel, Shoowa People, a northern group of the Kuba, D.R. Congo A fascinating example of a cut-pile prestige cloth from the Shoowa people,...

An old carved wood handle from Nepal, North India or other Himalayan culture. A butter churn handle called a ghurra. Created in the early 20th century. The handle with finely carved...

Congolese Textile Tetela DR Congo 19th century Measures: 68 x 41 inches (172 x 104 cm) Provenance: Ambre-Congo gallery, Brussels $5,000. A very rare ...