AAA490 medicinal bottle

A medicinal gourd from the Louba tradition

The AAA490 medicinal gourd presented by Versmissen comes from the Louba tribe in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Dating from the 20th century, it combines a gourd with wooden and string elements. Its 10 × 10 × 22 cm size and natural colour clearly reveal its vessel-like shape and the craftsmanship of its carved stopper.

Gourds of this type were often used to store medicines, sacred oils and other shared substances. They were sealed with finely carved wooden stoppers shaped like miniature heads, comparable to the faces depicted on larger sculptures or masks. The object thus combines a practical container function with the figurative treatment characteristic of these traditional African pieces.

Features of the AAA490 gourd

• Traditional medicinal gourd
• Made from gourd, wood and string
• Head-shaped carved wooden stopper
• Origin: Louba tribe in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Dimensions: 10 × 10 × 22 cm