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Power figure (nkisi)
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One of seven anthropomorphic figurines, these <em>minkisi</em> contained medicines in which an ancestral spirit was believed to reside. <em>Minkisi</em> were objects of communal use; if conflict arose between two citizens, the Nkisi figure, along with the <em>nganga</em> (ritual leader) helped resolve the dispute. This small figure belonged to “the sorcerer of Loango,” chief of all sorcerers of that region (a province and port in West Central Africa).
| Artist / Maker | Anonymous, Kongo people |
|---|---|
| Date | late 1800s-early 1900s |
| Culture / Origin | Central Africa, Republic of the Congo, Kongo people |
| Medium | Wood, organic materials (including resin), iron, reed, tooth, seashell or glass beads, and possibly plastic |
| Dimensions | Overall: 12 x 4 x 4 cm (4 3/4 x 1 9/16 x 1 9/16 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
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