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Figura magica Mangaaka

ca. 1880–1900
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 344
Il genere nkisi n’kondi, originario dall’Africa centrale, è onnipresente nell’arte africana. Ideate per ospitare determinate forze mistiche, queste figure magiche nascevano dal lavoro comune di scultori ed esperti in riti Kongo. Simboleggiano l’estirpazione del male, testimoniando voti suggellati o firme di trattati. Individuato come mangaaka, simbolo della forza del diritto, questo esemplare viene attribuito alla bottega di un maestro attivo lungo la costa del Congo e dell’Angola verso la fine del XIX secolo. I vari metalli conficcati nell’ampio torso confermano il ruolo centrale di questa figura in quanto testimone e guardiano di questioni di importanza cruciale per la comunità.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Titolo: Figura magica Mangaaka
  • Data: Metà-fine del XIX secolo
  • Area geografica: Repubblica democratica del Congo, regione del fiume Chiloango
  • Cultura: Popolazioni Kongo
  • Materiale e tecnica: Legno, pittura, metallo, resina, ceramica
  • Dimensioni: Alt. 118 cm
  • Crediti: Acquistato, donazioni di Lila Acheson Wallace, dott. Daniel e dott.ssa Marian Malcolm, Laura G. e James J. Ross, Jeffrey B. Soref, The Robert T. Wall Family, dott. Sidney G. Clyman e consorte, e Steven Kossak, 2008
  • Numero d'inventario: 2008.3
  • Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing

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Yombe-Kongo artist and nganga (ritual specialist) - Mangaaka Power Figure (Nkisi N’Kondi) - Kongo - The Metropolitan Museum of Art