Drinking vessel

Museum number: UEM7614 

Material: Wood 

Region and culture: Produced in Bas-Uele, med originates from Upper Kasaï 

Description: Drinking vessel in the shape of a carved female face. The object may have been produced in the province Bas-Uele, but originates from Kasaï. This type of woodcarving could imply that the object belonged to a high-ranking person. Traditionally objects attributed to people high in the hierarchy have both a practical and symbolic function. These types of vessels were probably used to drinking palm wine that is made from the sap from different types of palm trees.  

This vessel was bought as part of Christian Martini and Christian Schønbergs collection. Approx. 1890.