A large, round drum of the Luba, from southeast Congo. The drumhead is made of brown leather. The resonating chamber, the stand in the form of two women, as well as the base plate are all carved out of one piece of wood and coloured black. The hemispheric resonating chamber displays three all-round bands of geometric, linear chip-carving decoration. Both of the women, who - back to back - support the resonating chamber on their heads and hands, are carved in fine Luba style. With proportionally large, round heads, linear plaited coiffures and serious facial expressions. With long neck and elongated breasts. On their abdomen, with emphasised navel, both women have a rich pattern of scarification marks, as was usual for the Luba. Their genitalia are indicated in relief. Both kneel on a round base plate, carved on the outside, of which ca. one-third is broken off on one side (old break). This Luba drum is, in its scale and complex execution, a very rare, ‘museum-quality’ object, with good, old, partially shiny usage patina and some age-related damage: the base plate is broken for about one-third of its circumference and repaired in one place (old), cracks on the resonating chamber have been glued with black tree resin (old original repairs), the figures are slightly chipped. H: 76 cm; DM: 31 cm (the drumhead in the upper section). First half of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance: Jo Christiaens, Bruges, Belgium.

Lit.: ‘Sounding Forms. African Musical Instruments’ by Marie-Thérèse Brincard, fig. 25.