Power figure (nkisi)

Cleveland Museum of Art

The Power figure (nkisi) is a dark brown wooden sculpture. The figure has a long, narrow body with a small head, arms bent at the elbows and hands clasped together in front of the body. The figure stands on a small oval base. The face is carved with a neutral expression and white eyes. A decorative element on top of the head resembles a crown or headdress with several long, thin sticks or feathers protruding from it. The background of the image is a gradient from dark gray at the top to light gray at the bottom.