Zemanek-Münster

Small power figure "nkisi"

D. R. Congo, Songye
sold EUR 1,400
Provenance
Leo Meurrens, Leuven, Belgium
Size
H: 19 cm
H: 7.5 inch

Description

wood, partly shiny brown patina, remains of pigments, attached paraphernalia (glass bead necklace, small wooden peg, plant fibre), several drillings (crypto-fetish), small animal horn on the head, eyes inset with cowrie snails, min. dam., missing parts (foot tips), cracks, slight traces of abrasion, base;
smaller “mankisi” (sing. - nkisi) were kept inside the house in order to protect its inhabitants. They were often handed down from one generation to the next. These small “mankisi” were even taken along when people left their homes.


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