Figure

Description

Carved wooden standing male figure known as nkisi, with raised arm, carved in wood and covered with metal blades and nails driven into the body, and fragments of textile wrapped around the arms, used by specialists to deal with problems in the community: Africa, Central Africa, Kinshasa, Bakongo people, 19th century

Museum reference

A.1950.276

Collection

World Culture

Object name

Figure

Production information

Unknown
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa

Date

19th century

Style / Culture

Bakongo

Materials

Wood, Iron, Metal, Textile

Physical description

Wood; covered with magical materials, nails and pieces of metal

Exhibitions

• Patterns of Life (29 Jul 2011)
  National Museum of Scotland

• Treasured: Wonderful Things, Amazing Stories (14 Nov 2008 - 01 Jan 2011)
  National Museum of Scotland

On display

national museum of scotland »
level 1 »
world cultures, patterns of life