Luba stool, Democratic Republic of Congo - Lot 45

Luba stool, Democratic Republic of Congo Beautiful dark brown patina Height: 29 cm Provenance: French private collection --- Luba stool, Democratic Republic of the Congo Beautiful glossy dark brown patina Height: 29 cm Provenance: French private collection The corpus of stools made by the Luba can be divided into two categories: caryatid stools, the most accomplished and best-documented form of sculpted representation of the female figure, and non-figurative stools, like the one presented here, which, according to Mary Nooter Roberts and Allen F. Roberts, an ancient expression that prefigures figurative models. These monoxyle luhona seats are both insignia of power and representations of the clan's ancestors. Their minimalist appearance conceals a rich and complex symbolism. The openwork base supports four curved legs, symbolizing the paths leading to the "royal capital", represented by the circular, concave seat. These objects thus embody the "center of political power and sacred authority." (Nooter Mary and Allen Roberts, Memory: Luba Art and the Making of History, 1996) The softness and roundness of the modelling is accentuated by the deep black, lustrous patina of use. This typology, rare in our collections, expresses the formal evolution of these ceremonial objects over time. In this respect, two unique examples of four-legged Luba stools, carved with a central figure in the round, are listed, testifying to a transitional style between the non-figurative style illustrated by our object, and the caryatid style. The corpus of stools created by the Luba can be divided into two categories: the caryatid stools, which represent the most refined and well-documented form of female figure sculpture, and the non-figurative stools, such as the one presented here, which, according to Mary Nooter Roberts and Allen F. Roberts, represent an ancient expression that prefigures the figurative models. These Luhona monoxyle seats are both symbols of power and representations of clan ancestors. Their minimalist appearance conceals a rich and complex symbolism. The openwork base supports four curved legs, symbolizing the pathways leading to the "royal capital," represented by the circular, concave seat. Thus, these objects embody the "center of political power and sacred authority." (Nooter Mary and Allen Roberts, Memory: Luba Art and the Making of History, 1996). The smoothness and roundness of the forms are accentuated by the deep, lustrous black patina of use. This typology, rare within collections, reflects the formal evolution of these ceremonial objects over time. In this respect, two unique examples of Luba stools with four legs, carved with a central figure in round relief, are cataloged, representing a transitional style between the non-figurative style illustrated by our piece and the caryatid style. Wear from use, repair to base --- Wear and tear, Repair at base