Search Results

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 23.86546

Primary Keywords

ancestors

figures (representations)

nkisi

occult power

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 23.86546

Primary Keywords

divination

mediation

medicine

minkisi

occult power

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 23.36279

Primary Keywords

divination

figure (representation)

mediation

medicine

minkisi

occult power

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 22.64729

Primary Keywords

blades

figure (representation)

minkisi

minkondi

nails and spikes

occult power

ritual

spirits