Power figure (nkisi kozo) / Artist Unknown, African, Republic of the Congo, Kongo
Viewer
About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 1997/1.352
- Title
- Power figure (nkisi kozo)
- Artist Nationality
- Congolese
- Medium and Support
- carved wood, cord and traces of pigment
- Object Creation Date
- 20th century
- Object Creation Place
- Africa (continent)
- Congo, Democratic Republic of the (nation)
- Creation Place 1
- Africa (continent)
- Creation Place 2
- Congo, Democratic Republic of the (nation)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Dr. James and Vivian Curtis
- Dimensions
- 52.8 cm x 25.4 cm x 12.2 cm (20 13/16 in. x 10 in. x 4 13/16 in.)
- Century
- 20th century
- Primary Object Classification
- Sculpture
- Physical Description
- Carved wooden figure of a crocodile. A carved wooden bell is attached to the figures neck. The face (eyes, nose, and mouth) are detailed.
- Subject Matter
- Nkisi is a generic term for a class of power objects. These objects are employed as solutions to social and physical problems. They are ritually charged objects, able to facilitate movement of spirits between differnet points of existence. Animals, such as crocodiles, are assoicated with spirits that can move this way.
- Secondary Keywords
- descriptors
- healing
- object genres
- object genres by function
- people and occupations
- the natural world
- Rights
- If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/about/services/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Technical Details
- Collection
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- Image Size
- 1326 x 829
- File Size
- 96 KB
- Record
- 1997/1.352
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1997-sl-1.352/1997_1.352.jpg
Rights and Permissions
Related Links
Portfolios
IIIF
- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1997-SL-1.352:1997_1.352.JPG
Cite this Item
View the Help Guide for more information.
- Full citation
-
"Power figure (nkisi kozo); Artist Unknown, African, Republic of the Congo, Kongo." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1997-sl-1.352/1997_1.352.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 27, 2024.
