NKISI YOMBE
NKISI YOMBE
Yombe (Kongo) nkisi statuette.
Height: 45cm, 20th century.Heavy, dark brown wood, iron ring, cords, animal-skin cap, feathers.The head is covered with a traditional Mpu cap made of animal hide, a symbol of chieftain authority, secured with small pins. The face is covered with a thick patina that is light on the left and dark on the right.The slightly parted mouth reveals two upper teeth and the tongue.The body features a ventral mirror. A corded belt secures several feathers that extend along the ventral mirror. The ribs are visible and likely suggest a condition known as lubanzi (the ribs) or some other form of pneumonia.The figure is depicted in a confident, almost defiant pose, with one hand resting on the hip and the other on the knee, a stance reinforced by the look of disdain on the face.The animal-skin cap and the thick patina covering the face confer upon it vital force and powers, which are further enhanced by the ventral mirror, enabling a view into the invisible world from which the spirits govern the material world below. These attributes make the object a fetish of protection and healing.
NKISI YOMBE
Yombe (Kongo) nkisi statuette.
Height: 45cm, 20th century.Heavy, dark brown wood, iron ring, cords, animal-skin cap, feathers.The head is covered with a traditional Mpu cap made of animal hide, a symbol of chieftain authority, secured with small pins. The face is covered with a thick patina that is light on the left and dark on the right.The slightly parted mouth reveals two upper teeth and the tongue.The body features a ventral mirror. A corded belt secures several feathers that extend along the ventral mirror. The ribs are visible and likely suggest a condition known as lubanzi (the ribs) or some other form of pneumonia.The figure is depicted in a confident, almost defiant pose, with one hand resting on the hip and the other on the knee, a stance reinforced by the look of disdain on the face.The animal-skin cap and the thick patina covering the face confer upon it vital force and powers, which are further enhanced by the ventral mirror, enabling a view into the invisible world from which the spirits govern the material world below. These attributes make the object a fetish of protection and healing.
