Lot 151A
Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Songye people, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A commanding Songye nkisi figure, carved with the kind of fearless clarity that makes Central African sculpture feel timeless and startlingly modern. The nude female stands with hands pressed to her pregnant belly, her pendulous breasts and carefully delineated genitalia emphasizing fertility, continuity, and the body as a vessel of power. The face is sharply stylized and crowned with a compact topknot, while two inserted animal teeth form fangs at the mouth, lending the figure a charged, protective presence. At the center of the abdomen, an empty charge cavity marks the work as a true nkisi (power figure), once intended to hold activating materials for spiritual and communal use. Size: 3.5" W x 15" H (8.9 cm x 38.1 cm)
The carving is particularly strong in its stance: finely curved, broad legs descend into proportionally large flattened feet, with toes clearly defined and subtly arcing to the contour of the rounded base. The surface is finished with a rich, oily patina in varied dark and light brown tones, and the figure retains a pronounced smoky scent, suggesting long exposure to ritual environments or domestic hearth smoke. A vivid and sculptural example of Songye spiritual art, this nkisi balances themes of fertility and protection with a direct, almost architectural strength of form.
Provenance: private Santa Fe, New Mexico USA collection
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Item #
200603
- Condition: Good. Expected age wear with some abrasions in areas and chip to one fang. Otherwise, intact and excellent with rich, oily patina and strong, smoky scent.
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