Divination Implement
1880–1920
- Medium
- Wood, glass beads, and natural fiber
- Dimensions
- Overall: 11.4 x 3.4 x 4.8 cm (4 1/2 x 1 5/16 x 1 7/8 in.)
- Genre
- sculpture
- Museum
- Cleveland Museum of Art
Styles
Tags
Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Luba-style maker
About
This device helped contact an ancestral spirit who clarified misfortunes. The diviner awakened the ancestor by anointing the rectangular frame of the figurine with pungent basil leaves. Sitting on a textured woven mat, the diviner held one side of the instrument while the client held the other. The diviner then posed questions to the ancestor who responded through certain movement signaling affirmation.