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Details / Information for Box

Box

c. 1920

Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, unknown carver, Kuba style

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Medium
Wood and tukula
Measurements
Overall: 10.8 cm (4 1/4 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Katherine C. White 1976.185
Copyright
Copyright
This artwork is known to be under copyright.
Location
Not on view
Print
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Did You Know?

Look inside this box to see traces of tukula, a red cosmetic.

Description

Over the centuries the Kuba developed a distinctive and elaborate decorative style to embellish a wide variety of personal and household objects. Each design, derived from weaving patterns, has its own name---for example the interlace is called imbol. This box held tukula, a fragrant red camwood powder that was mixed with palm oil and used as a cosmetic. The carved pattern around the sides is called bisha masongo, the "back of the wild boar."

Box

c. 1920

Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, unknown carver, Kuba style

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