Accession Number
1984/2.29

Title
Box

Artist(s)
Kuba

Artist Nationality
Kuba (Democratic Republic of Congo style)

Object Creation Date
circa 1950

Medium & Support
Wood, brass, coins, fiber, and tukula powder

Dimensions
3 7/16 in x 12 3/8 in x 2 1/2 in (8.73 cm x 31.43 cm x 6.35 cm)

Credit Line
Museum Purchase made possible by the Friends of the Museum of Art

Subject matter
Kuba boxes served several purposes. Ornately decorated boxes were created as a form of competition among titled court members. Also, they were often used to hold objects such as razors for cutting raffia, personal care objects such as hairpins in addition to various ritual objects and medicinal substances. Boxes shaped like this often held razors for cutting Raffia. In particular, the cut-pile technique consisted of cutting the tufts off the raffia to create a "velvet"-like texture. 

This box also contains tukula powder called tool or twool. Made from camwood, tukula was used abundantly on Kuba carvings. It was also smeared on clothing and used in times of mourning. Boxes were often used to hold tukula powder.

References:
Daniel Biebuyck, The Arts of Zaire, 1985
Georges Meurant, African Textiles from the Kingdom of Kuba, 1986
Roy Sieber, African Textiles and Decorative Arts, 1972
Jan Vansina, The Children of Woot, 1978

Physical Description
A thin rectangular box with a lid. Four metal button-like objects are fastened on four coins from the belgian Congo—from 1921—on the base and lid of the box. There is a bulging ornate design on the center of the lid, and geometric patterns cover the entire box. One corner of the lid has a splinter broken off. 

Primary Object Classification
Wood and Woodcarving

Primary Object Type
box

Collection Area
African

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form. Keywords
carvings (visual works)
geometric motifs
prestige
textile art (visual works)