Standing power figure "nkisi nduda" · D. R. Congo, Bakongo · ID: 3040289
Olivier Castellano, Paris, France
Description
wood, shiny brown patina, remains of pigments, arms worked close to the body, hands resting on the belly, the big eyes presumably once inset with mirror glass facing upwards, conical headgear flattened at the top, min. dam., missing part (back of the base), cracks, slight traces of abrasion, base;
the “nkisi nduda” were not especially adorned. Of real importance was their magic effectiveness and their ability for fortune-telling. They were used for warding of witchcraft, diseases and thieves.
The object Standing power figure “nkisi nduda” with the object ID 3040289 was last part of the auction 82nd Tribal Art Auction at February 27, 2016 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 453.
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Publications
Castellano, Olivier, Portraits and Regards, Paris 2011, p. 52 f.