Remate do bastão de chefe Luba.
Dignitary staff, D. R. Congo, Luba.
Madeira entalhada e patinada, 168 cm.
Escultor Luba, 1920 (c.), República Democrática do Congo
Proveniente da coleção de Edouard d’Orjo de Marchovelette, Brussels, Belgium (1901-1985), territorial administrator, who served from 1925 till 1952 in the Belgian Congo. He collected mainly Luba and Lega objects; Didier Claes, Brussels, Belgium
Fotografia de 25 de janeiro de 2013.
Leilão Zemanek-Münster, 72th Tribal Art Auction, 9 de março de 2013, lote 452, vendida por 12.000 euros, Munique, Alemanha.

Wood, shiny dark brown patina, front and back side with fine carved decor, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion, metal socle; the numerous dignitaries within the hierarchy of the erstwhile Luba-Empire - king, regional sovereign, village chief and clan eldest - disposed of a rich supply of administrative signs. The most frequently used signs of dignity are staffs of office, like the present one. Hereditary objects passed down the royal line. Staffs played a critical part in precolonial investiture processes, during which the chief´s sister and/or first wife preceeded him with the staff and placed it next to the royal throne. The ruler holds this emblem as he swore his oath of office. When not in use, the staff was held by the guard of one of the ruler’s wives or dignitaries. The broad sections of Luba staffs, called “dibulu”, represent the administrative centers that are part of every royal captial. The long, unadorned shafts represent uninhabited savannahs and signify the roads leading to the administrative centers of the kingdom.