fetish figures | 1-4 | Search Results | University of Michigan Museum of Art | University of Michigan Library Digital Collections

Title: Male Figure (possibly mukuya figure repurposed as nkisi)
Artist: Artist Unknown, African, Beembe Peoples Democratic Republic of the Congo
Physical Description: Wood-carved, standing figure with knees slightly flexed, prominent gentalia, naturalistic face, pointed beard and eyes inset with a white material, probably small ceramic fragments. The feet are missing. It wears a metal ring around its neck, and a string with metal fragments, glass beads and a small metal bell is attached across its chest, from arm to arm. A vertical crack on the front right side of the figure is filled with a gauzy material.
Century: 19th century
Object Creation Date: circa 1870
Accession Number: 2005/1.189
Medium and Support: wood, beads, metal, ceramic fragments
relevance: rank 9.12817
Secondary Keywords: associated concepts; fetish figures; objects we use; people; people (agents); people and culture; people by family relationship; religions and religious concepts; religious concepts; sculpture; sculpture by function; visual works; visual works by medium or technique; visual works by subject type

Title: Power Figure (nkisi kozo)
Artist: Artist Unknown, African, Vili Peoples, Congo Republic
Physical Description: Small wooden animal, possibly a dog or warthog, stands with medicinal pack and mirror embedded into its back; face has long sneering mouth and snout, bearing teeth. short pointed ears; tail curls at end. Two “guns” or pointy projections would have come out above the dog’s front legs, but they have broken off.
Century: 19th century
Object Creation Date: 1825-1899
Accession Number: 2005/1.182
Medium and Support: wood, mirrors, resin, tukula powder, medicinal substances
relevance: rank 8.81092
Secondary Keywords: analytical functions; animal; associated concepts; disciplines; fetish figures; functions; functions (activities); functions by general context; health sciences; objects we use; occult sciences; people and culture; religions and religious concepts; religious concepts; science; science and related disciplines; sculpture; sculpture by function; visual works; visual works by medium or technique

Title: Nail figure (nkisi nkondi)
Artist: Artist Unknown, Vili Peoples, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Physical Description: Wood-carved, standing male figure 40 inches in height. Its shoulders and torso are impaled with iron blades, nails and fragments. The torso is long, arms at side are bent at elbow and hands rest on lower abdomen. The right wrist wears a bracelet with attachments. The legs are truncated, with twisted metal anklet on right foot. The face is naturalistic, the mouth slightly open, the nose long and narrow with slightly flared nostrils. Eyes are almost shaped, may have had inlay that is now gone. The top of the head shows a tiered, "layer cake like" coiffure. The figure has a long and deep crack down the entire length of its left side, from top of the head to the left ankle.
Century: Late 19th century
Object Creation Date: circa 1850
Accession Number: 2005/1.192
Medium and Support: wood, iron nails, blades and fragments, fiber cord
relevance: rank 8.77527
Secondary Keywords: associated concepts; components; components and systems; components by specific context; descriptors; events; fetish figures; object genres; object genres by form; objects we use; people and culture; religions and religious concepts; religious concepts; sculpture; sculpture by function; tool and equipment components; visual works; visual works by medium or technique; visual works by subject type

Title: Power Figure (nkisi nduda)
Artist: Artist Unknown, African, Yombe Peoples Democratic Republic of the Congo
Physical Description: Small wooden figure with naturalistic human face engulfed in layers of multi-media attachments including animal hides, medicine packs, and a turban bound in feathers. Figure holds the tip of a curved piece of wood in its mouth, the other end of which terminates in its clutched right hand. A round mirrior is embdedded in the figure's "belly." The hides and fibers creating the “skirt” are intact, making it unique.
Century: Late 19th century
Object Creation Date: 2nd half of 19th century
Accession Number: 2005/1.191
Medium and Support: wood, mirror, glass, hide, fiber, feathers, resin, pigment
relevance: rank 8.60222
Secondary Keywords: analytical functions; associated concepts; disciplines; fetish figures; functions; functions (activities); functions by general context; health sciences; objects we use; occult sciences; people and culture; religions and religious concepts; religious concepts; science; science and related disciplines; sculpture; sculpture by function; visual works; visual works by medium or technique; visual works by subject type

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