CONGOLESE TEKE BATEKE POWER RELIQUARY FIGURE. Teke Bateke power reliquary figure also known as minkisi. They serves as powerful spiritual object. The figures were believed to house spirits and were used for protection, healing, and personal empowerment. The sharp beard, narrow facial scarification, and brimmed hairstyle contrast with the smooth encasement of empowering materials. The materials used to create the encasement, as well as the specific form of the figure, varied depending on the intended purpose and the individual who commissioned it. - Height: 14 inches (including base). Estimate $150-200
