code: 2024-RD-2st

2x a miniature African tribal art figure, known as

Kashita

a divination object, known as friction or rubbing oracle

of the Lualua / Lulua / Lwalwa Peoples from, now, D.R. Congo,

we see small figures in a hollowed out bed, tied with rope,

the figures are carved with the typical Lualua geometric face features, 

these small U-shaped oracle consists of a masked figure and a separate concave scraping / rubbing bed.

these oracles conjure the truth and jurisdiction - during questioning of a suspect the figure was rubbed back and forth on the surface of the scraping area until the figure blocked, depending on the position of the figure the truth against the relevant suspects was interpreted, blockade during the rubbing process constitutes an unconscious movement that the diviner - soothsayer / truthsayer unconsciously produced. 

lengths: circa 12,5 and 13 cm / circa 4.9 and 5.1inch

widths: circa 6,5 and 5 cm / circa 2.5 and 1.9  inch

weight together circa 127 gr.

age: unknown, but with signs of use

condition: very nice, stable and firm, we did not clean, nor polished them

provenance: a private collection of African tribal art in The Netherlands, collected since 1960

- the sale price is for the 2 figures together - 

please note: we are no experts on the subject of tribal art, we have done limited, unprofessional research, trying to attribute this object to a land, country, tribe or people and determine the use and age to the best we could, but please know it is only our opion, you might disagree - do judge for yourself, by having a close look at all pictures, the tribal affilation and the correct age before buying or bidding - we are selling this item "as is" and we will not accept returns if the buyer finds that we are wrong concerning these matters.