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Between and Mortarboard

UMMA Object Specific Fields




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26 UMMA Objects
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Luba;Songye (Luba (culture or style);Songye)
Janus Headed Axe
20th century
Gift of Susan B. and John F. Ullrich
1998/1.70
As one of a pair of delicately carved, ivory statuette-pendants, this female figure stands upright, as opposed to her counterpart whose head and upper body lean slightly forward. Both, however, have a round head with a convex face; large, coffeebean-shaped eyes; a rectangular mouth with prominent lips; a cylindrical neck; and, a coiffure decorated on the back with a cruciform pattern. Additionally, both female figures clutch their breasts in their hands. The statuettes have been pierced through, allowing them to suspend from a string.
Luba (Luba (culture or style))
Power Figure
1845 – 1855
Gift of Candis and Helmut Stern
2005/1.220.1
A conical stopper, topped by an anthropomorphic representation of a female head with elaborate coiffure. 
Luba (Luba (culture or style))
Stopper
1895 – 1905
Museum purchase made possible by the Betty J. Lockett Memorial Fund
1984/2.40

Luba (Luba (culture or style))
Carved Wood Figure
1945 – 1955
Given in memory of Sidney H. Roberts
1987/1.242
Two carved female figures, holding one arm over each other's back, an the other resting on the stomach decorated with lozenge motifs and scarification patterns; one figure is wearing a rope around the middle. A curving shaft supports the figures, broadening from the metal tip at the bottom into two bulging forms, divided by a dark black line through the middle, and covered in a carved pattern of triangles and lines on both front and back. The staff is heavy, with a nice shiny patina.
Luba (Luba (culture or style))
Staff
1900 – 1940
Gift of Margaret H. and Albert J. Coudron
2001/2.76
This standing female <em>nkisi mihasi</em>, or “benevolent” power figure, exhibits many of the typical traits associated with the Luba of the Upemba Basin, and more specifically, with the Kisale center of production. These features include a disproportionately elongated torso, terraced coiffure, diamond-shaped scarification patterns covering the abdomen and back, and, a crescent moon symbol on the pubis. In addition, this figure possesses a round head with almond-shaped eyes, an open mouth, flat and level shoulders, protruding breasts and bellybutton, and horizontal lines across its upper thighs. Multiple strands of white, dark blue, and light blue beads adorn the figure’s neck, upper chest, wrist, hips, and ankle. A cotton loincloth has been wrapped around the figure’s hips.
Luba (Luba (culture or style))
Power Figure
1885 – 1895
Gift of Candis and Helmut Stern
2005/1.212
This janus, or double-faced carved wooden bust, is characteristic of the eastern Luba style, also known as the Luba-Hemba style. The elongated, ovoid-shaped faces, thin, long noses, and eyes surrounded by ocular cavities are traits typically seen in Hemba figural work.  The motifs on the temples and forehead and the intricate geometric designs decorating the head depict actual Luba scarifications. Both faces closely resemble each other and feature long beards. A round cup sits atop the large, convex head; this cup conceals a cavity in the crown, allowing medicinal substances to be held inside.  Wrapped around the bust’s long neck is a piece of brown cloth that has been held in place by a cord. A hook has been attached to this cord allowing the object to hang undisturbed in order to safeguard it when not in use.
Luba (Luba (culture or style))
Double-Faced Power Figure
1895 – 1905
Gift of Candis and Helmut Stern
2005/1.213
This woodcarved figure exhibits elaborate diamond-shaped scarifications throughout the torso and crescent-shaped ones across the pubis; a disproportionately long trunk; and, protruding breasts and umbilicus. With semi-spherical feet, the figure stands with knees slightly bent. Her round head features an angular face; a large, concave forehead; coffeebean-shaped eyes; a triangular nose; a small mouth; and a coiffure styled in cascading tiers. The elbows are bent such that her fingers rest atop the shoulders, adjacent to the breasts.
Luba (Luba (culture or style))
Power Figure
1895 – 1905
Gift of Candis and Helmut Stern
2005/1.218
This western Luba <em>kifwebe</em> (plural, <em>bifwebe</em>), a striated mask with parallel grooves, has a rectangular, box-like form. A dense raffia fiber beard has been tightly bound around the carved wooden face. The mask was crowned by a black and white cock feather headdress (now lost due to damage) that perfectly matched the black and white striations. The vertical and arching lines suggest the mask derives from the Manono region, yet the black and white coloring indicates it originates further northwest in the Kabalo area. Moreover, the mask possesses many stylistic features of Songye <em>bifwebe</em> including the stylization of the eyes, mouth, and saggital crest; however, this mask’s cubic shape makes it markedly different from Songye ones. Here, the mouth protrudes with square, pursed lips, the eyes appear as horizontal slits with slightly overhanging eyebrows, the crest extends from the forehead eventually forming the nose, and the chin is flat and wide. Faint traces of white clay (kaolin) appear
Luba (Luba (culture or style))
Mask
1935 – 1945
Gift of Candis and Helmut Stern
2005/1.219

Luba (Luba (culture or style))
Vessel
1900 – 1932
Gift of Dr. James and Vivian Curtis
2000/2.120
Two-pronged bow rest in the shape of a woman. The bow support extends from the figure's head like antlers. 
Luba (Luba (culture or style))
Bow Rest
20th century
Gift of Robert M. and Lillian Montalto Bohlen in memory of Nancy Turner Bohlen
2015/2.176
With head.
Luba (Luba (culture or style))
Kakishi
Gift and partial purchase from the estate of Kurt Delbanco in honor of Nicholas Delbanco
2017/1.645
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