Object Notes

All minkisi (sing. nkisi) are containers for consecrated substances, or "medicine," that empower them to protect, heal, or destroy.

The sculptor of this figure emphasizes the horseman's aggressive power by giving him both a warrior's and a hunter's hat and bared teeth.

African masquerades acknowledge the presence of foreigners and their impact on local practices. The Betsi and Ntumu call this type o

This colossal headdress represents D'mba, the universal mother, symbol of mature femininity. She is concerned with fertility as well as the prosperity and well-being of the entire community. Unlike other masks which were designed to cover only the face and head of the wearer, masks like this D'mba headdress were designed to cover both. Shoulder masks are often very heavy.

The elegant grip of this dagger is ornamented in the middle by a thickened ridge and ends in a spiral that may represent a coiled millipede or the tightly wound coil of an unopened fern.

In contrast to ordinary mangles, this one is elaborately decorated with relief carved human figures and birds and incised geometric patterns. The human figures represent the weaver's forebears, who passed their skills down the generations. They protected her as she created potent motifs on powerful textiles.

Trade items and local goldwork are harmoniously combined in this necklace, which is more Western in form than most Indonesian jewelry. The beads probably originated in East Timor.