250410 - Rare & Old African Kuba Tukula Bongotol used as a funeral gift - Congo.

Extremely Rare & Old African Kuba Tukula Bongotol used as a funeral gift - Congo.
Size Total length 35 cm.

This Kuba Bongotol is dated end 19th century and comes with a certificate of authenticity.

purchased from the Belgian collector Jan Vansina, he was ethnographer of the Kuba peoples and he was professor of anthropology and history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

This funerary object is a significant example of Kuba prestige objects. Tukula, a bright red pigment, is obtained by grinding pieces of heartwood from tropical trees, particularly camwood (Bafia nitra) and African padauk (Pterocarpus soyauxii). The tukula is ground to a fine powder and mixed with palm oil to form a paste, which is then molded into various shapes.

When baked, this paste hardens into blocks known as bongotol, which are often decorated and presented as funeral gifts. These blocks can be figurative, either anthropomorphic or zoomorphic, and typically feature geometric designs that reflect the Kuba's abstract and graphic aesthetic. The use of tukula not only highlights the Kuba's craftsmanship but also their spiritual and cultural connection to the afterlife. These blocks served as ritual offerings, accompanied the deceased, or were donated by heirs to close family members.