Luba Caryatid Headrest
Tribe: Luba
Country: Democratic Republic of Congo
Material: Wood.
Size: 7" (17.7cm) tall x 7.5" (19cm) wide
Condition: Good.
Status: SOLD - Private Collection - Florida, USA
Used by a member of the Luba elite, this diminutive sculpture elevated the head of its resting owner. Its function may appear prosaic but it served an important purpose by protecting the sleeper's elaborate coiffure, itself a work of art requiring some fifty hours to create. Here, the artist has composed a playful visual pun by emphasizing and enlarging the swooping curves of the sculpted figure's own hairstyle, mirroring the equally elaborate hair designs it helped to preserve.
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