Drinking Vessel

(UEM7615) A palm wine drinking vessel carved in human-like shape, portraying the head of a man or perhaps, a woman. Among the Kuba, most vessels made for palm wine drinking were sculpted in the shape of male figures. Ideally, palm wine drinking was a social activity for men, not women. This does not mean that women could not also enjoy palm wine, only that if they did so, they would not drink it in the company of men. Compared to the previous presented drinking vessels, this one is less elaborate, although the face, hairstyle, and necklace or tattoo are carefully carved.

Material: Wood
Region: Kasai, Kuba
Height: 20 cm.
Arrival: Bought by the Museum from Christian Martini and Christian Schønberg, 1890.