Phuungu (Lineage Power Figure) (Primary Title)
Phuungu Figure (Charm) (Former Title)

Unknown (Artist)

19th–20th century
Yaka
Wood, glass beads, cloth, fiber, horn, feather
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Overall: 10 1/2 × 3 3/8 × 4 3/4 in. (26.67 × 8.57 × 12.07 cm)
2013.241
The bundles attached to this figure contain earth from ancestral graves, herbs, and other materials that harbor auspicious powers, including a feather and a small horn that introduce the spirits of the respective animals. Keen sensory perception is denoted by the figure’s large nose, projecting ears, and alert eyes, while the bared teeth convey aggression.
Gift of Drs. Kenneth and Carol Adelman

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