Democratice Republic of Congo
Luba

Wood, calabash, fiber, feathers
Early-Mid 20th Century
Length: 14 inches
Idiophone – Struck Indirectly – Shaken -Rattle

Luba female figure on top of gourd rattle. This divination rattle shows a women with a coiffure and scarification patterns on her torso, which attests to the high rank of both the depicted figure and the owner of the rattle. The handle is mounted by woven, braided fiber that attaches feathers to the gourd. Inside the gourd are dried seeds. As almost invariably, the female figure draws on the extraordinary generative powers of women and their special relationship with the ancestors. Shows signs of usage and age.