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Male Figure (Nkisi)
✓ Authenticity guarantee · ✓ Specialist condition report · ✓ Insured worldwide shipping · ✓ Private-room viewing
<em>Nkisi </em>is often associated with the word <em>spirit</em>, as these figures are believed to host a variety ancestral spirits. With an intact mirror-covered stomach cavity, this figure was not decommissioned before sale or disposal, deeming its particular powers sustained. The cloth knots and carvings suggest that it was used to bind agreements or oaths, and to reconcile social and cosmological contradictions.
| Artist / Maker | Anonymous, probably Yombe-style maker |
|---|---|
| Date | late 1800s-early 1900s |
| Culture / Origin | Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo (most likely), Cabinda, or Republic of the Congo, probably Yombe-style maker |
| Medium | Wood, organic material (including resin), metalized glass, and cloth |
| Dimensions | Overall: 17 x 5.3 x 7 cm (6 11/16 x 2 1/16 x 2 3/4 in.) |
| Department | African Art |
| Type | Sculpture |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
Shipping & Collection
Fine-art shipping with climate control and full insurance to over 120 countries; collection by appointment.
Buying at Matchless Pieces
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