Power figure "piomdo" (or "piombo") · Sierra Leone, Kissi · ID: 3041993
Vittorio Mangio, Monza, Italy
Description
wood, blackish brown patina, body wrapped in cloth bandages, cape from striped fabric, just the head and the massive neck visible, six brass shells attached, necklace with semiprecious stones and leopard tooth in sheet capsule, sticky sacrificial patina on the face, dam. (fabric), crack (neck), base;
the traditional Kissi “piomdo” usually conceals a stone sculpture in a cavity hollowed out in the stomach (not visible because of cloth bandages). When the building of a new hut or a village was planned such mighty power figures were placed in special huts some time before in order to drive evil spirits out of the place. In order to be effective they were loaded with special powers and were equipped with magical substances. They were considered as powers of highest rank and were used for jurisdiction and in cases of illness as well.
The object Power figure “piomdo” (or “piombo”) with the object ID 3041993 was last part of the auction 85th Tribal Art Auction at March 4, 2017 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 112 achieved a sales price of EUR 3,500.
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Comparing literature
Bamert, Arnold, Afrika, Olten 1980, p. 12 f. Tagliaferri, Aldo & Arno Hammacher, Die steinernen Ahnen, Graz 1974, ill. 72 Meneghini, Mario, Collecting African Art in Liberia and Neighboring Countries 1963 - 1989, o.O. 2006, p. 36
Publications
AHDRC: 0137025