Carved from a heavy dense wood, The image of a Kuba King "Ndop" seated cross legged on his throne. This sculpture has a well handled surface patina suggesting actual age and field use. Traditionally Ndop sculpture have rounded contours creating forms that define the head, shoulders and stomach, and also feature a defined collarbone. While the relative naturalism may appear to have been informed by an artist’s one-to-one observation of the nyim, ndop sculptures aren’t exact likenesses; they are not actually created from direct observation. Instead, cultural conventions and visual precedents guide the artists in making the sculpture. The expression on the face, the position of the body, and the regalia were meant to faithfully represent the ideal of a king ~but not an individual King. Measures 13 inches tall x 4.25 inches wide. (16 inches tall on professional custom display stand)

fair, well handled