Title
Male Figure, late 1800s-early 1900s. Creator: Unknown.
Caption
Male Figure, late 1800s-early 1900s. A typical example of a type of nkisi or spirit container known as nkondi (from the verb konda , "to hunt") this figure once held a spear in its raised arm. The empty stomach cavity, which would have contained the medicinal substances that gave the sculpture particular powers, indicates that the figure may have been discarded before being sold. Each iron nail, screw, and wedge?a combination of both local smiths work and European imports?represents a case that was brought to the ritual specialist ( nganga ) for diagnosis and intervention. The action of driving iron objects into the nkisi was intended to arouse it, enabling it to see the intentions of the defendant's enemy.
Credit line
Photo12/Heritage Images/Heritage Art
Reference
HRM19F92_399
Model release
NA
Property release
NA
License type
Rights managed
Available size
48,0Mb (3,1Mb) / 12,0in x 15,6in / 3595 x 4667 (300dpi)