Axial Commons Image Treasury
Carved wooden standing figure covered with nails, cords, shells and feathers, holding a packet at its chest, on a flat base against a gray background.

Male Figure (Nkisi Nkondi)

A carved wooden standing figure with a dark, polished face, wide eyes and a metal-studded head covering. Its body is encrusted with nails, cords, shells, feathers and fabric, and it holds a small box-like packet against its chest. The figure stands on a flat rectangular base, with its surface worn and accumulated materials visible throughout.

Artist
Vili
Date
Probably early to mid-19th century
Medium
Wood, metal, glass, fabric, fiber, cowrie shells, bone, leather, gourd, and feathers
Source
Art Institute of Chicago
Size
1686 × 2997 px
Download full size
Public domain · Art Institute of Chicago releases this image under CC0 (latest date 1875).
Rights checked 2026-11-05 · tier A · as stated by the source: CC0 (Art Institute of Chicago, is_public_domain=true)

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): Art Institute of Chicago, Ada Turnbull Hertle Endowment

Español: Figura masculina (Nkisi Nkondi), pueblo Vili, África Central

Figura de pie tallada en madera, con rostro oscuro y pulido, ojos grandes y un tocado de metal con tachuelas. Su cuerpo está cubierto de clavos, cordones, conchas, plumas y tela, y sostiene contra el pecho un paquete pequeño con forma de caja. La figura descansa sobre una base plana y rectangular, con la superficie desgastada y los materiales acumulados visibles.

Português: Figura masculina (Nkisi Nkondi), povo Vili, África Central

Figura em pé esculpida em madeira, com rosto escuro e polido, olhos grandes e uma cobertura metálica com tachas na cabeça. O corpo está coberto de pregos, cordões, conchas, penas e tecido, e a figura segura contra o peito um pacote pequeno em forma de caixa. Ela repousa sobre uma base plana e retangular, com a superfície gasta e os materiais acumulados visíveis.

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