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Power Figure (nkisi or phuungu)
Power Figure (nkisi or phuungu)
Courtesy of the Harn Museum of Art, Photography by Foad Seyed Mohammadi

Power Figure (nkisi or phuungu)

Maker Yaka Artist , Democratic Republic of Congo
Date20th Century
Place of originDemocratic Republic of Congo, Africa
MediumWood, cloth, feathers
Dimensions7 7/8 x 2 3/4 x 1 3/4 in. (20 x 7 x 4.4 cm)
ClassificationsSculpture
Credit LineGift of Dr. and Mrs. Saul A. Geronemus
Object numberS-72-37
Collections
Standing figure with crested coiffure; body enveloped with twine; patina.
Power Figure (nkisi, phuungu)
Yaka Artist
undated
Dark green cloth bundle with bulbous base and tapered neck, secured with randomly wrapped red and white thread and green satin ribbon. Sealed with a stopper topped with a tuft of brown and gray chicken feathers.
Vodou medicine packet for Damballah (Paket Kongo)
Haitian Artist
2012
Blackened face mask with red and white pigment, bared teeth, some encrustation on top with nail stuck on right of forehead.
Face Mask (ojo okoroshi)
Igbo Artist
1970
Carved wood figure with various attachments: medicine bundles with feathers and other substances, cowrie strands on neck and head, monkey skull attached to front with cords, shells and seed pods and gourd bound to figure with cord, back covered with burlap; dots of blue and white pigment on figure; figure holds a club in each hand; has conical headdress, strand of red and green beads on back, iron chain with small conical bell attached at end dangling at feet.
Smallpox God
Yoruba Artist
1969
A costume with a grass skirt, black and white striped shirt, and conical headdress.
Masquerade (deangle)
Mano Artist
c. 1940
A dark wooden mask featuring deep round eyes, a prominent nose, and an open mouth showing teeth. Cowrie shells are attached to the upper edge, and a thick fringe of dark feathers and fibers surrounds the lower face.
Mask (gle)
Dan Artist
undated
A dark wooden mask featuring incised geometric patterns and large, deep circular eye sockets with raised center pegs. It is topped with a thick crown of dark feathers and fibers, with long, thin tendrils hanging down from the sides.
Mask, ishyeenmaal, isehndemale or pwoom itok
Kuba Artist
20th century
Wooden mask of abstracted crow, with open beak, horns, ears, and protruding, round eyes. It is rendered in red, white, and black pigments.
Mask (suaga due)
Mambila Artist
undated
Mask with exaggerated features, attached teeth, horns, feathers, fur, and pigments.
Face Mask (gela)
Ivorian Artist
undated
An ovoid maskette made of wickerwork, with tubular eyes, attached to cut-out snail shell.
Spirit figure (talipun)
Boiken
ca. 1950
Standing male figure with large head, beaded, crested hairdo; torso is a cylinder with a carved center for medicines; slightly flexed knees; pigment and patina on head and legs, torso is raw wood suggesting it was covered or made to be covered.
Teke janus power figure (nkisi)
Teke Artist
20th century
Woven basketry cone shaped from topped with traditional Sepik human head made of clay and painted designs. Large shell eyes, typical nose and protruding tongue. Hair beard. Face encircled in shells, embedded with clay. On basketry torso is the "dual" ancestor's face mocking the larger predominate face. Raffia fringe extends from bottom. Handle on side and back. Wood plug earring. Raffia fringe covers armholes inside. Striped design in red, black and yellow.
Dual ancestral costume
Iatmul
20th century

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