The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of July 8, 2026

A square, dark brown wood and tukula box lid with concave sides is covered in dense geometric carvings. Centered on the face, a diagonal cross partitions a square into four triangles. Top and bottom segments feature rows of raised triangular points, while lateral triangles show a fine grid. Multiple concentric borders of zigzagging and straight lines frame this central motif. A small hole pierces the surface in the upper right.

Box lid

c. 1920

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

Wood and tukula
Gift of Katherine C. White 1976.185.b
Location: Not on view

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."
  • ?–1976
    Katherine C. White
    1976–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art by gift
  • {{cite web|title=Box lid|url=false|author=|year=c. 1920|access-date=08 July 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1976.185.b