Kongo-Yombe Power Figure, Democratic Republic of the Congo

nkisi nduda
height 10 1/2in (27cm)

Provenance
Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, Geneva, Switzerland
Sotheby's Parke Bernet, London, 27 June 1983, Lot 56
Jacques Kerchache, Paris
Sotheby's New York, 15 November 1988, Lot 121
American Private Collection

According to Evan Maurer, "The mirrored charge serves as the medium through which a diviner would seek answers to problematic questions. The figure incarnates the spirits of past diviners, to whom the traditional practitioner, or nganga, would appeal to for aid in their oracles. The nkisi nduda are also used to protect an individual and to keep away sorcerers. They are known to have an aggressive aspect if agitated or provoked, which is perhaps seen here in the raised bunch of feathers on the figure's head." (Spirits Embodied: Art of the Congo, The Minneapolis Institute of Arts, 1999, pg. 76)

The artist of this diminutive yet powerful sculpture has placed it standing firmly on a square base and has placed two magical-symbolic charges, each packed with medicinal ingredients, one on its chest, a massive coat of resin topped by a large rectangular mirror; the other atop its head, wrapped in a turban that holds feathers, the facial features and ears are naturalistically carved, the eyes inset with glass; fine dark brown patina with ritual patination throughout.