CONGOLESE LUBA FEMALE ANCESTOR COMBS. Two hand carved patinated wooden combs associated with the Luba peoples of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These combs are much more than simple grooming tools; they are deeply significant objects that blend function, art, and spirituality. The female figure carved on the comb represents an ancestral spirit. Among the Luba people, for example, the female figure is a favorite theme in sculpture because, according to their mythology, a woman named Vilie was the first spirit and the founder of the clan. She is the guarantor of fertility and the lineage. Women were seen as guardians of the cults, and royal wives played important political roles. - Lenght: 13.5 inches (average). Estimate $120-180
