Description
A set of two engraved boards called bongotol (or mbwoongitwoll). The material used to make bongotol boards is not clay, but tukula (or twool) wood, grated and mixed with sand to form a paw, a kind of putty, which is then shaped and engraved by the women with a tapered reed. The bongotol is then dried in the sun and finally placed by the fire inside the house. Bongotol are offered to the dead, hung from the sides of the coffin, placed under the neck like a pillow or under the buttocks, or placed on the body - these are offerings. But when these objects are not buried, they are a sign of wealth. An aristocrat will encourage his wives to make them in order to have some in advance. These two fine old examples of bongotol from Stéphen Chauvet's former collection are typical of the art of the Kuba kingdoms, with their interlacing engravings, which, according to Georges Meurant, one of the great connoisseurs, "cannot stand emptiness". In Jean Roudillon's notes: "Africa, Kuba of Zaire, Small panel of "velvet" molded? in a red paste Former collection of Doctor Stephen Chauvet " Kuba, Democratic Republic of Congo Grated tukula wood putty mixed with sand, minor accidents, very fine old patina. H. 26 and 22 cm See p. 15 no. 63 for an example of another bongotol board in: Art Kuba, Crédit Communal, Georges Meurant, 1986. Provenance : - Collection of Docteur Stéphen Chauvet - Collection Jean Roudillon
96
A set of two engraved boards called bongotol (or mbwoongitwoll). The material used to make bongotol boards is not clay, but tukula (or twool) wood, grated and mixed with sand to form a paw, a kind of putty, which is then shaped and engraved by the women with a tapered reed. The bongotol is then dried in the sun and finally placed by the fire inside the house. Bongotol are offered to the dead, hung from the sides of the coffin, placed under the neck like a pillow or under the buttocks, or placed on the body - these are offerings. But when these objects are not buried, they are a sign of wealth. An aristocrat will encourage his wives to make them in order to have some in advance. These two fine old examples of bongotol from Stéphen Chauvet's former collection are typical of the art of the Kuba kingdoms, with their interlacing engravings, which, according to Georges Meurant, one of the great connoisseurs, "cannot stand emptiness". In Jean Roudillon's notes: "Africa, Kuba of Zaire, Small panel of "velvet" molded? in a red paste Former collection of Doctor Stephen Chauvet " Kuba, Democratic Republic of Congo Grated tukula wood putty mixed with sand, minor accidents, very fine old patina. H. 26 and 22 cm See p. 15 no. 63 for an example of another bongotol board in: Art Kuba, Crédit Communal, Georges Meurant, 1986. Provenance : - Collection of Docteur Stéphen Chauvet - Collection Jean Roudillon
You may also like
