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Master of Mayama. <em>Figure of Standing Male (Nkisi)</em>, late 19th century. Wood, shell, mud, metal, resin, organic materials, imported buttons, 25 1/2 x 4 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (64.8 x 10.8 x 12.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The Adolph and Esther D. Gottlieb Collection, 1989.51.19. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1989.51.19_PS2.jpg)
Master of Mayama. Figure of Standing Male (Nkisi), late 19th century. Wood, shell, mud, metal, resin, organic materials, imported buttons, 25 1/2 x 4 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (64.8 x 10.8 x 12.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The Adolph and Esther D. Gottlieb Collection, 1989.51.19. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1989.51.19_PS2.jpg)
Master of Mayama. <em>Figure of Standing Male (Nkisi)</em>, late 19th century. Wood, shell, mud, metal, resin, organic materials, imported buttons, 25 1/2 x 4 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (64.8 x 10.8 x 12.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The Adolph and Esther D. Gottlieb Collection, 1989.51.19. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1989.51.19_PS2.jpg)

Master of Mayama. Figure of Standing Male (Nkisi), late 19th century. Wood, shell, mud, metal, resin, organic materials, imported buttons, 25 1/2 x 4 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (64.8 x 10.8 x 12.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The Adolph and Esther D. Gottlieb Collection, 1989.51.19. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1989.51.19_PS2.jpg)

Master of Mayama. <em>Figure of Standing Male (Nkisi)</em>, late 19th century. Wood, shell, mud, metal, resin, organic materials, imported buttons, 25 1/2 x 4 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (64.8 x 10.8 x 12.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The Adolph and Esther D. Gottlieb Collection, 1989.51.19. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.1989.51.19_print_side_bw.jpg)

Master of Mayama. Figure of Standing Male (Nkisi), late 19th century. Wood, shell, mud, metal, resin, organic materials, imported buttons, 25 1/2 x 4 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (64.8 x 10.8 x 12.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The Adolph and Esther D. Gottlieb Collection, 1989.51.19. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.1989.51.19_print_side_bw.jpg)

Master of Mayama. <em>Figure of Standing Male (Nkisi)</em>, late 19th century. Wood, shell, mud, metal, resin, organic materials, imported buttons, 25 1/2 x 4 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (64.8 x 10.8 x 12.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The Adolph and Esther D. Gottlieb Collection, 1989.51.19. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CONS.1989.51.19_2000_xrs_detail01.jpg)

Master of Mayama. Figure of Standing Male (Nkisi), late 19th century. Wood, shell, mud, metal, resin, organic materials, imported buttons, 25 1/2 x 4 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (64.8 x 10.8 x 12.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The Adolph and Esther D. Gottlieb Collection, 1989.51.19. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CONS.1989.51.19_2000_xrs_detail01.jpg)

Master of Mayama. <em>Figure of Standing Male (Nkisi)</em>, late 19th century. Wood, shell, mud, metal, resin, organic materials, imported buttons, 25 1/2 x 4 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (64.8 x 10.8 x 12.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The Adolph and Esther D. Gottlieb Collection, 1989.51.19. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CONS.1989.51.19_2007_xrs_detail01.jpg)

Master of Mayama. Figure of Standing Male (Nkisi), late 19th century. Wood, shell, mud, metal, resin, organic materials, imported buttons, 25 1/2 x 4 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (64.8 x 10.8 x 12.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The Adolph and Esther D. Gottlieb Collection, 1989.51.19. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CONS.1989.51.19_2007_xrs_detail01.jpg)

Master of Mayama. <em>Figure of Standing Male (Nkisi)</em>, late 19th century. Wood, shell, mud, metal, resin, organic materials, imported buttons, 25 1/2 x 4 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (64.8 x 10.8 x 12.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The Adolph and Esther D. Gottlieb Collection, 1989.51.19. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1989.51.19.jpg)

Master of Mayama. Figure of Standing Male (Nkisi), late 19th century. Wood, shell, mud, metal, resin, organic materials, imported buttons, 25 1/2 x 4 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (64.8 x 10.8 x 12.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The Adolph and Esther D. Gottlieb Collection, 1989.51.19. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1989.51.19.jpg)

Master of Mayama. <em>Figure of Standing Male (Nkisi)</em>, late 19th century. Wood, shell, mud, metal, resin, organic materials, imported buttons, 25 1/2 x 4 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (64.8 x 10.8 x 12.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The Adolph and Esther D. Gottlieb Collection, 1989.51.19. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CONS.1989.51.19_2000_xrs_detail02.jpg)

Master of Mayama. Figure of Standing Male (Nkisi), late 19th century. Wood, shell, mud, metal, resin, organic materials, imported buttons, 25 1/2 x 4 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (64.8 x 10.8 x 12.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The Adolph and Esther D. Gottlieb Collection, 1989.51.19. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CONS.1989.51.19_2000_xrs_detail02.jpg)

Master of Mayama. <em>Figure of Standing Male (Nkisi)</em>, late 19th century. Wood, shell, mud, metal, resin, organic materials, imported buttons, 25 1/2 x 4 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (64.8 x 10.8 x 12.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The Adolph and Esther D. Gottlieb Collection, 1989.51.19. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CONS.1989.51.19_2000_xrs_detail03.jpg)

Master of Mayama. Figure of Standing Male (Nkisi), late 19th century. Wood, shell, mud, metal, resin, organic materials, imported buttons, 25 1/2 x 4 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (64.8 x 10.8 x 12.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The Adolph and Esther D. Gottlieb Collection, 1989.51.19. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CONS.1989.51.19_2000_xrs_detail03.jpg)

Master of Mayama. <em>Figure of Standing Male (Nkisi)</em>, late 19th century. Wood, shell, mud, metal, resin, organic materials, imported buttons, 25 1/2 x 4 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (64.8 x 10.8 x 12.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The Adolph and Esther D. Gottlieb Collection, 1989.51.19. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CONS.1989.51.19_2007_xrs_detail02.jpg)

Master of Mayama. Figure of Standing Male (Nkisi), late 19th century. Wood, shell, mud, metal, resin, organic materials, imported buttons, 25 1/2 x 4 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (64.8 x 10.8 x 12.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The Adolph and Esther D. Gottlieb Collection, 1989.51.19. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CONS.1989.51.19_2007_xrs_detail02.jpg)

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Figure of Standing Male (Nkisi)

Arts of Africa

ARTIST Master of Mayama
CULTURE Teke
MEDIUM Wood, shell, mud, metal, resin, organic materials, imported buttons
  • Place Made: Vicinity of Mayama, Pool Department, Democratic Republic of the Congo
    • DATES late 19th century
    DIMENSIONS 25 1/2 x 4 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (64.8 x 10.8 x 12.1 cm)  (show scale)
    COLLECTIONS Arts of Africa
    ACCESSION NUMBER 1989.51.19
    CREDIT LINE The Adolph and Esther D. Gottlieb Collection
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Male figure, with shiny brown patina except on face, which has matt brown surface. Two mud, red iron, and resin masses (bilongo) embedded with one cowrie shell, one on forehead, one on chest. Proportions of head, torso, and legs relatively equal; slightly crouching position. Face lined with shallow horizontal incisions, nose with incised center line and flared nostrils; crescent-shaped ears; button eyes. Trapezoid-shaped, flaring beard, also side whiskers and moustaches. Arms bend, without defined hands, placed on stomach. Small male sexual organ; blockish feet without toes. CONDITION: Long vertical cracks in front of torso, extending from neck to upper leg; cracks on side of head and on base. Moustache tips broken off; tip of left foot chipped off, top of right foot appears to have been mended.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Master of Mayama. Figure of Standing Male (Nkisi), late 19th century. Wood, shell, mud, metal, resin, organic materials, imported buttons, 25 1/2 x 4 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (64.8 x 10.8 x 12.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The Adolph and Esther D. Gottlieb Collection, 1989.51.19. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1989.51.19_PS2.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 1989.51.19_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2006
    "CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.
    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
    You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.
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    Master of Mayama. <em>Figure of Standing Male (Nkisi)</em>, late 19th century. Wood, shell, mud, metal, resin, organic materials, imported buttons, 25 1/2 x 4 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (64.8 x 10.8 x 12.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The Adolph and Esther D. Gottlieb Collection, 1989.51.19. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1989.51.19_PS2.jpg)

    TAGS

    1800s
    Beard
    Buttons
    figure
    Healing
    Helmet
    Kwango River
    male
    masculine
    Mayama
    media
    mixed
    Mud
    Nkisi
    sculpture
    Shell
    Spirits
    Status
    Teke, BaTeke
    Wood
    wooden
    x-ray

    TAGS

    1800s
    Beard
    Buttons
    figure
    Healing
    Helmet
    Kwango River
    male
    masculine
    Mayama
    media
    mixed
    Mud
    Nkisi
    sculpture
    Shell
    Spirits
    Status
    Teke, BaTeke
    Wood
    wooden
    x-ray

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