Male Figure (Nkisi Nkondi)
WW-1801-014960
1801·Wood, metal, glass, fabric, fiber, cowrie shells, bone, leather, gourd, and feathers·73.7 × 33.1 × 28 cm (29 × 13 × 11 in.)
<p>The term <em>nkisi</em> refers to spirit-invested objects that were empowered with medicinal and magical ingredients called <em>bilongo</em>. In the case of this male figure, the <em>bilongo</em> are enclosed in the cap on the head and in the mirror-sealed resin packet on the abdomen. The name <em>nkondi</em> refers to the figure’s ability to hunt down and punish wrongdoers. A nail or a blade was driven into the figure to prompt the inhabiting spirit at every consultation.</p>
Catalogue
- Year
- 1801
- Dimensions
- 73.7 × 33.1 × 28 cm (29 × 13 × 11 in.)
- Collection
- Art Institute of Chicago
Record
Verified by WattsOS- Year
- 1801
- Dimensions
- 73.7 × 33.1 × 28 cm (29 × 13 × 11 in.)
- Watts ID
- WW-1801-014960
Source
- Collection
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Source
- aic
- Reference
- View at source
- Status
- verified