Staff finial

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONThis ivory carving of a female figure once topped the staff of a Kuba chief.WHERE WAS IT MADE?This carving was made in the Democratic Republic of Congo. HOW WAS IT MADE?This was hand carved from a piece of ivory. Kuba ivory carvings are often rubbed with vegetable oil that has been colored with natural dyes, giving the surface a patina. Ivory, a relatively precious material, was often reserved for the making of objects used by prestigious individuals, such as chiefs and kings.HOW WAS IT USED?This carving topped a chief’s staff, a mvwala, and represented his legitimacy and power. The staff would have had a sharp tip, allowing it to be planted in the earth, thereby further symbolizing the chief as a realization of the ancestors’ approval.WHY DOES IT LOOK LIKE THIS?Notice how the female figure is kneeling. Many mvwala staffs depict a woman and child. In these cases, the woman represents the chief, and the child stands for the members of the dependant, yet nourished clan. On this staff finial, no child appears, but the symbolism is the same.