Luminous Luba Bust

Luminous Luba bust
This sculpture is an outstanding example of the art of Congolese woodcarving, crafted in tropical hardwood with a polished finish and mounted on a black metal base.
Probably originating from the Katanga region, its acquisition in Lubumbashi in the 1960s - a pivotal decade for the Democratic Republic of Congo - places it at a key moment in the region's artistic history. This was the era of "Authenticity", a cultural movement that encouraged Congolese artists to celebrate and preserve their heritage.
The naturalistic features and highly polished finish are characteristic of the sculptures produced in the Lubumbashi region in the mid-twentieth century. At the time, the city was a thriving artistic center, where traditional sculptural techniques were often adapted to more refined, naturalistic forms, intended both for local appreciation and the growing international market.
Although this piece is a specific urban creation, the structure of the face (high forehead, almond-shaped eyes and fleshy lips) is inspired by the classical aesthetic traditions of the Luba and Hemba peoples, originally from the greater Katanga region.
The head measures 18 cm wide, 18 cm deep and 30 cm high.
The base measures 10 cm high.
Total weight: 3.6 kg
The work shows cracks but remains solid and intact
Congolese art from the 1960s