Figure (Yanda)

Unknown

19th–20th century · Wood, sacrificial materials · Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

The nobles of the Zande court turned to Mangbetu craftsmen for many prestige items, while Zande artists themselves made the small roughly finished human and animal figures used by a religious cult called Mani. Through magical means, Mani sought advantages for its non-aristocratic members and protection from harm.

Artist

Unknown

Date

19th–20th century

Medium

Wood, sacrificial materials

Culture

Zande peoples

Department

Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Credit line

The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Gift of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1960