Figure magique "nkisi" / "nkishi" ·  R. D. Congo, Songye · ID: 3051100

Description

wood, glass beads, brass nails, base

The figure shows a black, in places heavily sweating sacrificial patina. The magical charge in the belly has been preserved and it still carries some of the paraphernalia around its neck, with which it was once equipped by the ritual specialist ‘nganga’ (animal horn, nut, bone pieces).

Such small “mankisi” were owned by an individual or at the most a family and served to meet personal expectations and wishes (fertility, good harvest, success in hunting, protection against witchcraft or lightning). In order to receive support the figures were charged with magical ingredients “bijmba”, which were combined by the ritualist “nganga” according to the relevant needs.

Once the figure was no longer deemed efficacious, it would be disposed of. Often the charm would be removed and destroyed by a ritualist, leaving only the carved figure, which now had no value to the Songye at all, as it had no longer had any functional purpose.

L’objet Figure magique “nkisi” / “nkishi” avec l’ID d’objet 3051100 a fait partie de la dernière vente aux enchères Vente aux enchères 103 dans 16 novembre 2024 le Zemanek-Münster Hôtel des ventes. L’objet portant le numéro de lot 390 a atteint un prix de vente de 12 000 €.

Vous trouverez d’autres Figures et autres types d’objets populaires sur nos pages thématiques associées. Notre page sur le thème Art africain pourrait également vous intéresser.

Publications

Wipplinger, Hans-Peter (Hg.), "Fremde Götter. Faszination Afrika und Ozeanien", Köln 2016, p. 87 (left)

Exposition

Wien, Leopold Museum: "Fremde Götter. Faszination Afrika und Ozeanien", 23. September 2016 - 9. Januar 2017