Accession Number1985/1.162B
TitleBox
Artist(s)KubaArtist NationalityKuba (Democratic Republic of Congo style)Object Creation Datecirca 1930Medium & Supportwood and tukula powderDimensions 6 1/2 in (16.5 cm)
Credit LineMuseum Purchase made possible by the Friends of the Museum of ArtSubject matterKuba 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 and personal care objects such as hairpins, in addition to various ritual objects and medicinal substances.
This box contains tukula powder called
tool or
twool. Made from ground camwood, tukula is 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.
The diamond pattern on the sides of this box are created through a repetitive interlocking of lines. A double crossing can possibly be considered a reference to Woot, the mythical founder of the Kuba, whose mother invented mat weaving.
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 DescriptionCylindrical vessel with a squared base. The sides of the vessel are engraved with a diamond pattern consisting of repetitive interlocking lines. The vessel is open and contains red powder.
Primary Object Classification Wood and Woodcarving Primary Object TypeboxCollection AreaAfricanRightsIf 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
basket
camwood (wood)
carvings (visual works)
covers
geometric motifs
prestige