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Kuba. <em>Palm Wine Cup (Mbwoongntey)</em>, 19th century. Wood, copper alloy, 6 3/4 x 4 x 5 1/8 in. (17.1 x 10.2 x 13 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1922, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 22.1487. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 22.1487_PS2.jpg)
Kuba. Palm Wine Cup (Mbwoongntey), 19th century. Wood, copper alloy, 6 3/4 x 4 x 5 1/8 in. (17.1 x 10.2 x 13 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1922, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 22.1487. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 22.1487_PS2.jpg)
Kuba. <em>Palm Wine Cup (Mbwoongntey)</em>, 19th century. Wood, copper alloy, 6 3/4 x 4 x 5 1/8 in. (17.1 x 10.2 x 13 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1922, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 22.1487. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 22.1487_PS2.jpg)

Kuba. Palm Wine Cup (Mbwoongntey), 19th century. Wood, copper alloy, 6 3/4 x 4 x 5 1/8 in. (17.1 x 10.2 x 13 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1922, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 22.1487. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 22.1487_PS2.jpg)

Kuba. <em>Palm Wine Cup (Mbwoongntey)</em>, 19th century. Wood, copper alloy, 6 3/4 x 4 x 5 1/8 in. (17.1 x 10.2 x 13 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1922, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 22.1487. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.22.1487_print_threequarter_bw.jpg)

Kuba. Palm Wine Cup (Mbwoongntey), 19th century. Wood, copper alloy, 6 3/4 x 4 x 5 1/8 in. (17.1 x 10.2 x 13 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1922, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 22.1487. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.22.1487_print_threequarter_bw.jpg)

Kuba. <em>Palm Wine Cup (Mbwoongntey)</em>, 19th century. Wood, copper alloy, 6 3/4 x 4 x 5 1/8 in. (17.1 x 10.2 x 13 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1922, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 22.1487. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 22.1487_profile_PS2.jpg)

Kuba. Palm Wine Cup (Mbwoongntey), 19th century. Wood, copper alloy, 6 3/4 x 4 x 5 1/8 in. (17.1 x 10.2 x 13 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1922, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 22.1487. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 22.1487_profile_PS2.jpg)

Kuba. <em>Palm Wine Cup (Mbwoongntey)</em>, 19th century. Wood, copper alloy, 6 3/4 x 4 x 5 1/8 in. (17.1 x 10.2 x 13 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1922, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 22.1487. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 22.1487_bw.jpg)

Kuba. Palm Wine Cup (Mbwoongntey), 19th century. Wood, copper alloy, 6 3/4 x 4 x 5 1/8 in. (17.1 x 10.2 x 13 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1922, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 22.1487. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 22.1487_bw.jpg)

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Palm Wine Cup (Mbwoongntey)

Arts of Africa

For centuries, among the Kuba, indications of personal status have been an important element in crafted objects. Even ordinary utilitarian items such as drinking cups for palm wine may indicate wealth and status through elegant carvings and decorations. Frequently, cups intended for use by rulers are carved in the form human head with a distinctive hairstyle associated only with royalty. Far more rare are cups carved with full figures.

CULTURE Kuba
MEDIUM Wood, copper alloy
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS
DATES 19th century
DIMENSIONS 6 3/4 x 4 x 5 1/8 in. (17.1 x 10.2 x 13 cm)  (show scale)
COLLECTIONS Arts of Africa
ACCESSION NUMBER 22.1487
CREDIT LINE Museum Expedition 1922, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Wooden cup for ritual drinking of palm wine, in the form of a human head, with handle. Decorated at hairline, between eyes at temples with brass tacks. Condition: Base chipped has been broken and repaired.
EXHIBITIONS
MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
CAPTION Kuba. Palm Wine Cup (Mbwoongntey), 19th century. Wood, copper alloy, 6 3/4 x 4 x 5 1/8 in. (17.1 x 10.2 x 13 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1922, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 22.1487. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 22.1487_PS2.jpg)
IMAGE overall, 22.1487_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2007
"CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.
RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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Kuba. <em>Palm Wine Cup (Mbwoongntey)</em>, 19th century. Wood, copper alloy, 6 3/4 x 4 x 5 1/8 in. (17.1 x 10.2 x 13 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1922, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 22.1487. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 22.1487_PS2.jpg)

TAGS

Cup
Palm Wine Cup
Kuba
Congo
wood
brass
Anthropomorphic cup

TAGS

Cup
Palm Wine Cup
Kuba
Congo
wood
brass
Anthropomorphic cup

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