Cup c. 20th century

This is a wooden cup, carved by Kuba peoples, that sits in the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The wood is dark, almost like chocolate, and the surface is alive with carved patterns, a testament to the maker’s focused labor. Running your eye over the cup, you see how the marks aren't just decorative; they're part of the cup’s very being. The cup’s belly is filled with broad curving strokes, dividing the space into diamond shapes that are then filled with smaller hatching marks. The lines are sharp and precise, but they also seem to ripple and flow, responding to the cup’s curves. The handle has been carved in the form of twisted rope, a beautiful and tactile detail. You can’t help but be reminded of the work of artists like Lucie Rie or Hans Coper, who, although working in a different medium, shared the same interest in the beauty and simplicity of hand-made objects. It’s about feeling the artist's hand, their presence, and the story of how it was made.