This Kuba cup has been called a masterpiece.  The balance, sensitivity of carving as well as the detail executed in dark hardwood point to an early date of creation, perhaps the first two decades of the 20th century, if not earlier.  The elongation of the female figure on the handle is as fine  as examples collected by Torday before 1910.  Extremely thin-walled, this cup was created by a Kuba master carver.  Too many pieces are called “museum quality", however, we believe this one truly is.