Ndop (Kuba)

Although the sculptural genre appears naturalistic, ndop are not actual one-to-one representations of particular subjects, but rather a culmination of visual notations that represented the ideal characteristics of the deceased king.

[1] Measuring about 48-55 centimeters in height, ndop were carved in hardwood and anointed with palm oil to protect them from insects, which is unique in African art and underscores their survival in Western collections today.

Ndop frequently portray the ruler carrying a weapon in his left hand, an ikul or peace knife, made in the style reserved for the Bushoong, the dominant sub-group of the Kuba.

[2][3] To create the distinct round contours of this sculpture, the sculptor primarily worked with an adze, which has a wooden handle to which a metal blade is attached at an acute angle.

Collected by the Hungarian explorer Emil Torday, one of them is estimated to date back to the eighteenth century, making it one of the oldest wooden sculptures extant from Sub-Saharan Africa.

Ndop of king Mishe miShyaang maMbul; 1760-1780; wood; 49.5 x 19.4 x 21.9 cm (19 1 ⁄ 2 x 7 5 ⁄ 8 x 8 5 ⁄ 8 in.); Brooklyn Museum (New York City). Ndops are royal memorial portraits carved by the Kuba people of Central Africa . They are not naturalistic portrayals but are intended as representations of the king's spirit and as an encapsulation of the principal of kingship.
One of the three Ndop statues in the British Museum
Another Ndop seated statue in the British Museum, estimated to be over 200 years old