This statue was carved in the style of an ndop figure from the Kuba peoples of DRC. Ndop figures are meant to be a memorial portrait of royal lineage. This statue measures 18 inches tall and weighs 5 pounds. There is some cracking and wear and tear throughout – please inspect photos carefully.
Sale!
| Type of Object | Figure |
|---|---|
| Country of Origin | DR Congo |
| Ethnicity | Kuba |
| Material | Wood, Pigment |
| Approximate Age | Unknown |
| Height (Inches) | 18" |
| Width | 4" |
| Depth (Inches)" | 4.5" |
| Weight (Pounds) | 5 lbs |
| Overall Condition | Some cracking, scuffing and general wear and tear throughout. |
Tribe Information
About the Kuba People
“During the 16th century, the Kuba migrated from the north and settled between the Sankuru and Kasai Rivers. Today, they number 250,000 and are subdivided into a number of tribes – the Bushoong, the Ngeende, the Kete, the Lele, the Binji, The Dengese, the Mbuun and the wongo. Each clan pays tribute to the Nyim, the king of the Bushoong ruling clan, but their internal affairs are dealt with autonomously. The Bushoong king and his court lived in a closed palace, known as the Mushenge. The king was responsible for the wealth and fecundity of his people.
Each clan within the Kuba kingdom produced artistic objects with specific characteristics, but there are common stylistic features, including predilection for incised geometric decoration. Cups, zoomorphic divination instruments and boxes were produced throughout the realm.”
Source:
Baquart, Jean-Baptiste. The Tribal Arts of Africa. New York: Thames and Hudson Inc. 1998. Print.
Additional Information
About the Ndop Statue
Ndop statues are probably the most admired of all Kuba art forms. Ndop figures are a representation of a king. Each king chooses an emblem during his supremacy that is sculpted into each ndop, along with a recognizable geometric motif pattern. This makes it easy to identify who the sculpture portrays and what reign it represents.