Featured in this lot are Two (2) Songye Nkishi Power Fetish Hand Carved Figurines from the Congo, circa mid 1900s. Provenance: the Owen D. Mort, Jr. Collection. Owen David Mort was an American engineer who amassed an impressive collection throughout his worldwide travels. His collection has included art, artifacts and other historical items from which he has donated to museums at the University of Utah and the Snite Museum of Art at the University of Notre Dame. The Songye people, sometimes written Songe, are a Bantu ethnic group from the central Democratic Republic of the Congo. Called Nkishi (power figure), these kinds of small statues were used for personal family or individual use and were the result two different talented specialists: the ritual ?priest? (nganga) with beneficial powers and the carver. Originally from Shaba in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Songye are related to the Luba with whom they share common ancestors. These figurines retain the specifics of the Songye statuary, with the appearance of the Kifwebe mask, the bulging belly to rest hands, stocky legs, spread, semi-flexed, supported by broad feet (in the case of the standing fetish). These home/personal protection fetishes are among the most prized in Africa. Much larger Nkishi statues were commissioned by chiefs and elders to benefit the entire community and were not the property of a single individual. The creation of a Nkishi was a public event that brought together the community, a skilled carver and experienced nganga trained ritual practitioner; the community was responsible for cutting the tree selected for the carving. These Nikishi Power Fetishes are striking in appearance and showcase the detailed skill of the artisan. The standing fetish is 3.5"H, the fetish with the striped horn protrusion is 4"H; total weight U6oz.*

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