Cosmetic Box

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Culture Kuba

Title Cosmetic Box

Date Ca. 1900

Medium Wood

Dimensions Object: 2 1/2 × 11 5/8 × 5 3/4 in. (6.4 × 29.5 × 14.6 cm)
Overall: 2 1/2 × 11 5/8 × 5 3/4 in. (6.4 × 29.5 × 14.6 cm)

Credit Line Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University

Accession Number 63.216

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About this Work

The surface carving on this lidded box added dramatically to the labor involved in making it and therefore increases its value. The box and lid show many of the same geometric patterns found on Kuba arts in a variety of materials, including cloth and beadwork. On the lid, weevils are depicted in higher relief. These were a favorite Kuba motif, said to symbolize prestige and the enduring power of the king.

Provenance
More Details

Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.

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"Cosmetic Box | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=63.216