Power half figure "nkisi" · D. R. Congo, Songye · ID: 3045294
Rob Vervoort, Molenstede-Diest, Belgium
Description
wood, hide, animal hair, feathers, plant fibre, reptile skin, base
Acting as intercessors between ancestral spirits and the living, such larger “minkisi” were intended to benefit the entire community.
The creation of a “nkisi” was a public event that brought together the community, a skilled carver and experienced “nganga”. Chiefs and elders commissioned the “nkisi” and the community was responsible for cutting the tree selected for the carving.
The carver decided on the “nkisi’s” features and type of wood to be used, often selected for its curative or toxic properties or for being associated with certain ancestral contexts.
The “nganga” assembled the “bishimba”, powerful matter made of animal, plant, and mineral substances. The addition of this sacred matter allowed the “nkisi” to become a conduit for spiritual forces.
The object Power half figure “nkisi” with the object ID 3045294 was last part of the auction Voyage Tribal Art - Live Online Auction at May 23, 2020 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 242 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,500.
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