Kuba — Democratic Republic of the Congo
Mid-19th century or earlier
Wood
Height: 6½ in (16.5 cm); Width: 4 in (10.2 cm); Depth: 2 in (5.1 cm)
Provenance: Personal collection of John Hewett, London
This cylindrical cup with a twisted rope-form handle is covered across its entire exterior surface in dense tightly incised geometric patterns — interlocking diagonal lines, hatched squares, and maze-like forms drawn from the Kuba kingdom's extensive decorative vocabulary. Cups of this type were used for palm wine consumption within Kuba court and social contexts, where the quality of surface decoration reflected the status of the owner and the prestige of the object. The deep dark reddish-brown patina and slightly irregular rim are consistent with sustained use over a long period.
The piece was part of the personal collection of John Hewett, London — one of the most significant dealers and collectors of African and Oceanic art in twentieth-century Britain — where it was prominently displayed on his desk for several decades and used to hold his writing implements, a use that speaks to the object's presence as much as its function.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Kuba — Democratic Republic of the Congo
Mid-19th century or earlier
Wood
Height: 6½ in (16.5 cm); Width: 4 in (10.2 cm); Depth: 2 in (5.1 cm)
Provenance: Personal collection of John Hewett, London
This cylindrical cup with a twisted rope-form handle is covered across its entire exterior surface in dense tightly incised geometric patterns — interlocking diagonal lines, hatched squares, and maze-like forms drawn from the Kuba kingdom's extensive decorative vocabulary. Cups of this type were used for palm wine consumption within Kuba court and social contexts, where the quality of surface decoration reflected the status of the owner and the prestige of the object. The deep dark reddish-brown patina and slightly irregular rim are consistent with sustained use over a long period.
The piece was part of the personal collection of John Hewett, London — one of the most significant dealers and collectors of African and Oceanic art in twentieth-century Britain — where it was prominently displayed on his desk for several decades and used to hold his writing implements, a use that speaks to the object's presence as much as its function.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
