Anthropomorphic Lime Mortar, Kuba (drc)

Anthropomorphic Lime Mortar
Kuba (DRC - Democratic Republic of the Congo)
19th century

Carved wood
H. 32.2 cm (35 cm with base)

This lime mortar takes on an anthropomorphic form. Carved from dense wood, it depicts a female figure enclosed within a cylindrical volume. The figure follows the aesthetic canons of the Kuba people, featuring intricate geometric scarifications and a closely cropped hairstyle with sharply defined contours.

She holds her forearms in front of her abdomen, with her hands framing her protruding navel. This gesture underscores the symbolic significance of the object, likely connected to the notion of lineage. The figure probably represents an ancestor, a high-ranking individual, or a spiritual entity.

The receptacle, hollowed out at the top, was used to store the lime necessary for mixing with kola for betel chewing, a common practice in regional societies. A sublime honey-colored patina indicates prolonged use. Passed down through generations, such objects attest to their owner’s social prestige and their role in rituals and ceremonies.