Description
Mankishi figures were believed to have magical powers and were used by diviners to contact spirits in otherworldly realms. Smaller, personal power figures were used to connect with “common” ancestors, while the larger Mankishi figures contacted higher-ranking ancestral spirits. These power figures were kept in their own personal spaces because of their powerful status, and could only be handled by their designated nkunja, or guardian.
Provenance
(Jean Dierickx, Brussels, BE, 1960, sold to René and Odette Delenne) (?-1960); René [1901-1998] and Odette Delenne [1925-2012], Brussels, BE, 2010, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art (1960-2010); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (2010–)
Accession Number
2010.452
Medium
Wood, upholstery studs, antelope horns, and animal hair
Dimensions
Overall: 34.8 x 6.2 x 14.5 cm (13 11/16 x 2 7/16 x 5 11/16 in.)
Classification
Sculpture
Credit Line
René and Odette Delenne Collection, Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund