Lualua Lwalwa Talking Stick With Figure Congo African authentic Art 138620

PRODUCT DETAILS

+ Type of Object - Talking stick, scepter
+ Country of Origin - Democratic Republic of Congo
+ People - Lwalwa, Lualua
+ Materials - Wood, pigment
+ Height (in) - 25.5
+ Width (in) - 4.5
+ Depth (in) - 3
+ Overall authentic Condition - Good. Most of our pieces have spent decades on at least two continents, and have been treasured by several owners.   Small splits, scrapes and cracks are a normal part of their patina attesting to their age and extensive use.  We examine each piece carefully when we receive it and report any damage we find in our listings.  Please look carefully at the pictures which may also reveal condition and damage.
+ Damage/Repair - Well worn patina, chipped end

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

Additional information: Historically, Lwalwa carvings were used in funerals and initiation ceremonies, but today they appear mostly in paid celebrations with little ritual importance. The sculptors who make them are still revered however, as historic artforms remain a socially important link to ancestors and the history of the group. The tradition is passed down from father to son. For more information on the groups from this remote area see "A Survey of Zairean Art: The Bronson Collection," by Cornet. Masks are the primary art form of the Lwalwa people, a small group (300,000) who live near the Kasai River in the southern part of Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly Zaire. Among the Lawlwa masks serve to witness initiations and circumcisions of the youths and some are danced during hunting rituals. None of these dances are witnessed by women and children.


SKU: 138620