Power figure
- Medium
- Wood, natural fibers, glass, metal, undetermined materials
- Dimensions
- 15 3/4 x 9 3/4 x 7 1/4 in. (40.0 x 24.8 x 18.4 cm)
Tags
Democratic Republic of the Congo
About
It looks like a man being punished or tortured. But to its Kongo makers and users, this figure was a container, empowered by a ritual specialist to house a specific spirit. The figure was consulted like a traditional chief to settle disputes and arrive at binding decisions. Each nail and blade, driven in to energize its powers, represents an issue resolved by its ritual authority.
