Kongo nkisi figure, Democratic Republic of the Congo
9.5" tall
wood, glass, cloth, magic charge, pigment
$300 - To inquire about this object, send an email to Rand@DiscoverAfricanArt.com with a subject line of "Kongo nkisi".
In their traditional context, Kongo power figures, nkisi, were used in cooperation with a spiritual healer, nganga, to invoke positive and negative
forces on behalf of a client seeking his services. The power invested in the figure could either relieve the family of a burden or, in turn, place a
burden on one's enemies. The stance, with hand on hip, together with the upturned head, is a typical gesture displaying confrontation and
confidence. Additional information and examples can be seen at: http://www.randafricanart.com/Bakongo_Nkondi_figure.html
Despite its appearance, I believe that this figure was made specifically for the collecting market.
Recommended reading: Astonishment & Power: The Eyes of Understanding: Kongo Minkisi / The Art of Renee Stout
by MacGaffey Wyatt, Michael D. Harris, Sylvia H. Williams, and David C. Driskell
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