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Hôtel des Ventes de Troyes

215 - Tukula box - Kuba kingdom - D. R. Congo
See original version (French)

Estimate €100 - €150
Sale commission
Description
Tukula box - Kuba kingdom - D. R. Congo Provenance: Private collection, Belgium Size: 33cm This elegant lidded box bears witness to the artistic refinement of the Kuba people, whose sculpture workshops produced some of the most elaborate works in Central Africa. The surface of the container is entirely covered with engraved geometric motifs - triangles, chevrons and diamond grids - characteristic of the Kuba decorative vocabulary, also found on raffia textiles, prestigious objects and traditional architecture. The lid is surmounted by a stylised anthropomorphic figure framed by two arched handles. The face, treated with restraint, bears the conventional facial scarifications frequently found in Kuba art. Beyond their decorative function, these representations often evoke status, identity or the link with ancestors. Boxes of this type were used to store precious substances or objects of value. They might contain tukula, a red powder obtained from a precious wood, ground to a powder and mixed with oil for body care, aesthetic practices and certain rituals.
See original version (French)
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About the sale ARTS OF AFRICA & OCEANIA: Three exceptional family collections
Auction location
Auction time 06/22/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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