Songye Power Figure (Nkisi) stamp Great care was taken to

Great care was taken to guide these spirits—mogat—so they would not linger and bring misfortune

An finely cast leaded-bronze arm ring from the Ban Chiang culture of prehistoric Northeast Thailand or Laos

dating to the era of the Crusades

purity and corruption

night) and Lisa (male

Songye Power Figure (Nkisi) stamp Great care was taken toSongye people, early to mid 20th century, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa Magnificent and imposing standing Songye power figure (nkisi), the collaborative creation of a master sculptor and a trained ritual specialist. Expertly carved from a single piece of dense brown wood, the surface is deeply dyed and enriched with sacred materials (bishimba) composed of seeds, horns, fiber, and hidesubstances believed to activate and house