Object Record
Images
Additional Images [3]
Metadata
Catalog Number |
1972.16.13 |
Object Name |
Bowl, Ceremonial |
Description |
Cup with handle made of stained wood. It is a carved, polished male head with a cup on top and an incised geometric pattern around the cup. The figure has hair, a neck, and closed eyes. There is a loop handle from the back of the head to the back of the neck. Known as a Mbwoongntey. This carved wooden cup is known as a Mbwoongntey to the Kuba--a cluster of about 16 Bantu-speaking groups in southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The cup is used for drinking palm wine--an alcoholic drink made from fermenting sap of palm trees. These cups traditionally feature a figural form or either a head or sometimes a full body. The decoration and ornamentation of these cups relates to the owner’s status, and certain attributes, including hairstyles, are directly associated with royalty. |
Title |
Palm Wine Cup (Mbwoongntey) |
Date |
1948-1960 |
Material |
carved wood | stain |
Dimensions |
H-6 Dia-4 inches |
Credit line |
Gift of Miss Madge Rice |
Place of Origin |
Africa/Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Culture |
Kuba |
Subjects |
Drinking vessels Social classes Social life Wealth Wine |