Yombe "Power Figure"

From: Fowler Museum at UCLA Limited Edition: 11 Exhibition: Intersections: World Art/Local Lives Material: Printed 2-ply vinyl Dimensions: 35" x 96" (88cm x 243cm) Hanging Hardware Included Summary The cloudy whitened eyes on an 18th-century Congolese sculpture lend the piece an other-worldy aspect. This is perhaps appropriate, as the wood carving is known as a "power figure". An artist sculpts such a figure, and then supernatural power is bestowed upon it by a ritual specialist who attaches a small vessel containing magical properties. The forces these figures embody are believed capable of combating witches, evil-doers, and others seeking to upset social harmony. 11 banners are available featuring this mesmerizing image from the Fowler Museum at UCLA. Description The entry of the Portuguese into the Zaire estuary in the 15th century eventually led to the decline of a developed system of Yombe governance. What remained was a cultural dynamic that produced this 18th-19th century nkisi