African Carved Wood and Metal Nkisi Figure

Item Details

An African carved wood and mjetal Nkisi figure. The vintage hand-carved wood and metal sculpture depicts a human male ‘Nkisi’ figure. The face depicts large, open eyes, a broad nose, and wide mouth. The figure’s right arm is held up near the figure’s right ear, and is carved in the shape of a fist, with a hole through the hand where he likely once held a length of braided rope. The left arm is only faintly indicated, hanging loose at the figure’s side. The figure, or ‘Kozo’, is made of carved wood, with the torso and arms studded with protruding nails and other metal objects. Each nail or piece of metal symbolizes a ‘vow’ or ‘promise’ of the Nkisi to abolish or drive away evil spirits or intentions. The figure stands on a thick, roughly squared base. Nkisi or Nkishi are spirits, believed to possess spiritual powers to combat evil, and are sometimes portrayed with two heads, symbolizing their ability to see both worlds. They are also considered a kind of ‘portable grave’, often containing earth, objects, or residue from the grave of a significant or powerful individual, which was believed to imbue the figures with power. The center of the figure’s belly has a square of rectangular wood with a glass ‘window’ in the center, which is covered over with paint, mud or other material, obscuring the contents. The sculpture is unsigned, and the age and wood type are unknown.

Condition

Vintage condition
- wear, cracks, grime, rust, dings, scratches and wear throughout

Dimensions

Item #

16DEN081-044