Songye, Dem. Rep. of Congo: A ‘Nkisi’ power figure.
A relatively small and very old female ‘Nkisi’ power figure of the Songye. In ‘classic’ form. Carved from hard wood. With a comparatively large head, slit eyes, a short, wide nose and a mouth in the shape of a horizontal ‘8’ over a large projecting chin. In an upright posture (with ‘hollow cross’), the hands on the abdomen, with bent legs and large feet, standing firmly on a hemispheric plinth. A ‘priest’ (magician, healer etc.) from a Songye village loaded the present female figure with plenty of ‘power’: the black antelope horns on top of the Nkisi’s head, the horn she wears on the collar, the two horns on her belt, and the crevice in the middle of her round belly offer abundant space for ‘magic substances’. This finely, ‘classically’ cut piece shows impressive, old, partly shiny and partly encrusted, black sacrificial patina. With minor age damage (small tears to the head, abdomen and plinth).
First third of the 20th century; H: 25 cm (with horn).
Provenance: Belgian Private Collection. (ME)
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
26.05.2015 - 15:00
- Estimate:
-
EUR 7,600.- to EUR 9,000.-
Songye, Dem. Rep. of Congo: A ‘Nkisi’ power figure.
A relatively small and very old female ‘Nkisi’ power figure of the Songye. In ‘classic’ form. Carved from hard wood. With a comparatively large head, slit eyes, a short, wide nose and a mouth in the shape of a horizontal ‘8’ over a large projecting chin. In an upright posture (with ‘hollow cross’), the hands on the abdomen, with bent legs and large feet, standing firmly on a hemispheric plinth. A ‘priest’ (magician, healer etc.) from a Songye village loaded the present female figure with plenty of ‘power’: the black antelope horns on top of the Nkisi’s head, the horn she wears on the collar, the two horns on her belt, and the crevice in the middle of her round belly offer abundant space for ‘magic substances’. This finely, ‘classically’ cut piece shows impressive, old, partly shiny and partly encrusted, black sacrificial patina. With minor age damage (small tears to the head, abdomen and plinth).
First third of the 20th century; H: 25 cm (with horn).
Provenance: Belgian Private Collection. (ME)
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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| Auction: | Tribal Art |
| Auction type: | Saleroom auction |
| Date: | 26.05.2015 - 15:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 20.05. - 26.05.2015 |