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Description:

This palm wine cup is carved from an unspecified wood and has a handle, which is uncharacteristic of many Kuba palm-wine cups. The carving on this cup shows an elaborate and incised hair style with scarification marks adjacent to the ears. The left ear is set much further back than the right, with evidence of wear, which suggests continued usage. The handle is situated at the back of the head, and emerges from the base of the cup to the middle of the head. This is carved in the shape of a person, with a similar face to that of the cup itself. Its slim body shows the right arm flexed across the chest and the left flexed across the stomach. There is again, evidence of wear on the handle, with the nose being completely worn away. Together with evidence of wear on the nose on the front of the cup and a smoothness of the rim, this all suggests the cup was certainly used, although it is uncertain if palm wine was the preferred choice.