Songye Power Figure (1880 - 1920)

Description: Songye Male Community, Nski.
Power Figure, standing with large feet on a short tapering platform, the protruding abdomen insert with fetish bundle beneath broad squared shoulders leading to abstract hands splayed on the abdomen, the elongated cylindrical neck decorated with snake skin, necklace with blue beads and a necklace with seeds. Beneath the large head a jutting chin, large open squared mouth with teeth, and flat nose framed by large incised oval eyes inset with brass tacks, and face covered with flat embossed copper sections, iron blades inserted in the head from ear to ear some of the blades are missing. The horn is original to the figure with its iron blade at the bottom of the horn on rear of the head. Wearing a leopard skirt at the waist with small horn and wooden object attached with string at the waist. Exceptional fine and varied medium brown, gray patina that has not been altered nor polished in any way.
19th/20th century
Democratic Republic of Congo