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Maker(s):Unknown
Culture:Congolese, Luba people
Title:Pestle
Type:Ceremonial
Materials:wood
Place Made:Africa; Democratic Republic of the Congo
Measurements:Overall: 7 1/4 in x 3 1/8 in x 3 1/16 in x 7.9375 cm; 18.4 cm x 7.9 cm x 7.8 cm x 3 1/8 in
Accession Number:  AC 1999.170
Credit Line:The Barry D. Maurer (Class of 1959) Collection of African art purchased with Amherst College Discretionary Fund and funds from H. Axel Schupf (Class of 1957)
Museum Collection:  Mead Art Museum at Amherst College
1999-170.jpg

Label Text:
A divination ritual artifact, the pestle consists of a female head surmounting a cylinder, forming the handle, and a bulbous grinding surface. It was used for lubuko, any of several techniques used to consult the spirits and to discern the hidden causes of things. An instrument of transformation, the pestle created "medicines" by combining the powers of various materials for protective and purgative purposes.

Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=AC+1999.170

Research on objects in the collections, including provenance, is ongoing and may be incomplete. If you have additional information or would like to learn more about a particular object, please email fc-museums-web@fivecolleges.edu.

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