Box Lid

Circular shaped wooden pigment box with lid; carving on lid is of large triangles and cross hatch pattern; carved square protrudes from center of lid and from base of box, center of this one is incised with a circle containing circular lines; intertwining zigzzags ornament the box; along rim there are four sets of rectangular carvings of vertical lines.

This box is in the shape of a basket in use among the Bushongo. The wooden boxes sometimes imitate the forms of baskets, and the carved decoration is chiefly derived from textile design. Boxes like this are sometimes used for the safekeeping of small articles; this one formerly contained red camwood pigment.