Description
SONGYE POWER FIGURE Democratic Republic of the Congo Wood, shell, coco shell and horn of antelope H.93cm Provenance: Private British collection NOTE The Songye people sought the aid of supernatural forces which they believed could be invoked and influenced in their favour through power sculptures known as mankisi (singular: nkisi). These sculptures ranging from a few centimetres to over a metre in height, depending on their intended function. They can be broadly categorized into two groups: those for personal use and those intended for the entire village or community. Smaller scale mankisi were typically crafted to address immediate needs and were not designed for long-term use.
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SONGYE POWER FIGURE Democratic Republic of the Congo Wood, shell, coco shell and horn of antelope H.93cm Provenance: Private British collection NOTE The Songye people sought the aid of supernatural forces which they believed could be invoked and influenced in their favour through power sculptures known as mankisi (singular: nkisi). These sculptures ranging from a few centimetres to over a metre in height, depending on their intended function. They can be broadly categorized into two groups: those for personal use and those intended for the entire village or community. Smaller scale mankisi were typically crafted to address immediate needs and were not designed for long-term use.
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