Māori, Oceanic & African Art Tuesday, 8 October 2024 - 5:00 PM start
A Nkisi Figure From The Babara People Of Segou
Realised: $2,000 plus premium
Lot Details
Mali, Circa 1960s Composed of carved wood, metal, fiber and clay. A nkisi or power figure is an object that has been imbued with a revered ancestral spirit by a nganga or healer/diviner. They are invoked to search out wrongdoing, enforce oaths, cure sicknesses and protect households or villages against evil forces. The metal objects commonly pounded into the surface of power figures represent the nkisi's active roles during rituals or ceremonies. Each nail or metal piece represents a vow, a signed treaty, and an effort to abolish evil. Provenance: Private Collection of Michael Yoffe. H 64cm
