Luba Lupona stool (No. 29617)

Ex-french collection of african art, accompanied by its certificate of authenticity. Ethnic group: luba country: congo the caryatid "receptacle of a deceased sovereign chief" (luba, roberts) supporting the top of this stool-pedestal table called lupona, or kioni or kipona, kiona, affirms the political and spiritual role of women in luba society. This seat once formed the base on which the mulopwe king was enthroned. African seats were placed on leopard skins during the investiture of the new chief. It was only after sitting on them that his speech took on a royal and divine character. Apart from these exceptional circumstances, the seats were not used and remained stored in secret locations. Patina from black-brown to orange, erosion and desiccation cracks. The cradle of the luba (baluba in tchiluba) is katanga, more precisely the region of the lubu river. Source "africa, the art of a continent" ed. Prestel; "luba" f. Neyt; "luba at the sources of zaire" f. Neyt.