Ritual Rattle, Luba, Democratic Republic Of Congo.

Ritual rattle topped with a Janus head resting on a ring-shaped neck. The two faces, with sober and expressive features, dominate a sculpted handle. The lower part is composed of two large spheres of dried calabash forming the resonators, inside which seeds produce the sound. The whole, balanced and rhythmic, testifies to its sound and ritual function. Wood, calabash seeds (Lagenaria sp.), old brown patinas and signs of use (small crack with indigenous restoration on one of the two seeds). Luba, Democratic Republic of Congo. Dimensions: 19 × 6 cm (21 cm with base). Sold with certificate of authenticity from the expert Serge Reynes, guarantee of origin and period. "Among the Luba, ritual rattles accompanied divination and healing practices, particularly during bilumbu ceremonies. Shaken by diviners, they punctuated invocations and encouraged dialogue with the spirits. The Janus head, turned in two directions, embodies vigilance and mediation between the visible and the invisible. The use of the calabash, a natural and sonorous material, underlines the link between the plant world and the spiritual world, reinforcing the power of the object as an instrument and support for sacred communication." * Shipping costs on estimate.