Iwang Mbulu cane top, Canne à palabre, Democratic Republic o - Lot 55

Iwang Mbulu cane top, Canne à palabre, Democratic Republic of the Congo Near Tabwa territory Wood, wire Height: 159.5 cm Provenance : Koller sale, Zurich, lot 1752 French private collection ---- Iwang Mbulu Cane Summit, Canne à palabre, Democratic Republic of the Congo Close to the Tabwa territory Wood, wire Height: 159.5 cm Source: For sale Koller, Zurich, lot 1752 French private collection Major insignia of authority for Luba dignitaries, this type of ceremonial cane belonged to diviners, nobles and territorial chiefs. Receptacles of the histories, genealogies and migrations of a specific family, lineage or chiefdom, as well as insignia of power. The Luba considered women to be the most capable of preserving the secrets of power, so they made them the main iconographic theme, as here (cf. Nooter Roberts and Roberts, Luba, 2007, p. 38-41). The top of the cane, the body suggested, stylized, schematized in the form of a flattened rhombus, is entirely decorated with finely engraved geometric motifs. At the top, a face with delicate, fine, realistic features appears, the importance of its status attested to by the treatment of its sophisticated headdress, whose braid extends down to the nape of the neck. --- Major insignia of the authority of the Luba dignitaries, this type of ceremonial cane, belonging to divines, nobles and territorial leaders. Receptacles of the stories, genealogies and migrations of a specific family, lineage or chieftaincy as well as insignia of power. The Luba considered that women were the most capable of preserving the secrets of power, so they made it the main iconographic theme, as here (cf. Nooter Roberts and Roberts, Luba, 2007, p. 38-41). The top of the cane, the suggested body, stylized, schematized in the form of a flat diamond, entirely decorated with finely engraved geometric patterns. At its top, a face with delcats features, fine, realistic, the importance of his status, attested in the treatment of his sophisticated headdress whose braid extends to the bottom of the neck. The entire surface is oily and crusty, probably with traces of varnish to hold the crust in place. Missing behind the headdress, one missing on the back right-hand side, wear on the handle with cracks and a native restoration consisting of wire wrapping around the crack. Wear cracks throughout. All surface oily, crunchy, probably trace of varnish to make the crust hold. Gaps behind the cap, a gap on the right rear part, wear at the neck with cracks and an indigenous restoration made of metal wire wrapping the crack. Wear cracks on the whole.