Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, ca. 18th to 19th century CE. A carved brown stone figure of a n'kissi (nkisi), an object that a spirit inhabits and that is used in the act of divination. This example is zoomorphic, resembling a seated animal, perhaps a rhinoceros, with an ovoid cross-hatched symbol incised onto its forehead. Perforations drilled through its arms and legs may once have had feathers or some other attachments put through them as part of the act of divining. Feathers are especially common, because spiritual forces are associated with birds and other flying creatures. Often nkisi figures are combinations of multiple animals, taking different features as visual metaphors, like having the claws of a mongoose and the teeth of a viper to indicate fierceness. Size: 2.05" L x 1.55" W x 3.15" H (5.2 cm x 3.9 cm x 8 cm)

Provenance: private Young collection, New Hampshire, USA

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#122404

Wear from age and handling, with some details remaining. Old accession label on base.