Lumbu is an ethnonym designating inhabitants of southwestern Gabon and the Republic of Congo. They were part of the coastal groups involved in the Atlantic trade as middlemen between Europeans and the peoples of the interior. As a result, a significant portion of the artistic production collected on the Loango Coast and in its hinterland has been ascribed to them.1
The beautifully illustrated book written by Charlotte Grand-Dufay is devoted to this corpus. The author is to be commended for having been able to gather famous pieces in addition to others that have remained largely unknown until now.
A feast for the eyes, Les Lumbu is less convincing as far as its scientific value is concerned. Edited by gallery owner Bernard Dulon, it is mainly of interest to the art market. Emphasis is placed on the acquisition of objects by art dealers and collectors, while most of the few...