Drinking horn
Kuba
Description
Subject Matter:
Drinking horns were typically made from buffalo horns and often owned by nobility or title holders. Warriors and soldiers wore them as emblems of their ferocity and connection to the wilderness. A chord was attached to the horn so the cup could be suspended from a belt when not in use. They were often used to drink palm wine. Palm wine, made from raffia palm trees, was a popular beverage among Kuba men and women. The geometric patterns on this horn are similar to patterns found on Kuba textile, basketry, sculpture, and female body scarifications.
References:
Suzanne Bier, Royal Arts of Africa, 1998
Daniel Biebuyck, The Arts of Zaire, 1985
Georges Meurant, African Textiles from the Kingdom of Kuba, 1986
Jan Vansina, The Children of Woot, 1978
Physical Description:
A hollow animal horn with a braided fiber attached through a hole towards the horn's tip. Various linear designs, including intersecting lines, run along the bow of the horn in addition to concentric circles and zigzag lines.
Usage Rights:
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