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Figure, nkisi
Songye
early 20th century
Wood, fur, fiber, metal, nails, horn
H. 105 cm
TC 6

Mankisi (pl.) are individually or communally owned objects representing ancestors or spirits. They are empowered by magical concoctions stuffed into the top of their head (generally covered by an animal horn), abdomen and sometimes their mouth. They serve to protect their owner and resolve conflicts within their community.

Provenance:
James Willis, San Francisco, 1998
Sotheby's New York, October 31, 1994: lot 85.