Terrific Ceremonial Comb - hardwood of the Chlorophora excelsa tree called Iroko - Luba - D.R.C.

Terrific Ceremonial Comb – Luba – D. R. C. In good condition, but with many traces of wear and tear. It dates back to the 1930’s. On stand. Provenance: Ex –collection of the Right Reverend Fathers of Africa, Antwerp. Obtained from them by H. Westerdijk in 1961. Combs were one of the many categories of prestige objects used by the Luba to distinguish certain social classes with in the higher echelons of society. Ornate combs of this model were worn by women only, be it not on a daily basis. They were reserved for special occasions. The concept of a woman sitting or standing on a bridge formed by the part from which the teeth of the comb come down, is widely used. Here the female person is kneeling down with her feet pressed against the back of the bridge in a straddling posture. She is supporting her breasts in a cupping manner, guiding the eyes of the observer to the point where in Luba thought the magical powers of women are situated. She has a classical Luba face with a bulging –out, broad and high forehead and a coiffure formed by a U-shape with a lower conus –like bun. The decorative design above the teeth is 100% Luba in nature. Literature: Warren M. Robbins and Nancy Ingram Nooter; African Art in American Collections, Washington / London, 1989, fig. 1498 on p. 550. Dimensions: 23 x 8. 5 x 4. 5 cm. People/ Region: The Luba occupy large parts of the Shaba Province of southeast D. R. C. Material: hardwood of the Chlorophora excelsa tree called Iroko. Weight: 0. 75 kg. Sold with handwritten declaration of authenticity by Dr. P. Westerdijk, museum ethnologist and cultural anthropologist specialized, for over 50 years now, in the study of the material cultures in African nations that live south of the Sahara.