Bakongo - DR Congo

Superb 'Nail Fetish' from the Kongo/Bakongo people, Congo, wooden sculpture, Nkisi Nkonde, with hand raised. Vintage/antique object from the 1930s-60s, with the ventral cavity and eyes sealed by small intact glass panes, behind which a white substance (ritual powder) and black materials for the eyes can be seen. This presence, along with the two bundles of fabric wrapped around its hips and neck—likely holding herbs and other substances, anointed and covered with coagulated materials—suggests that the object was used in traditional rituals and is not merely a tourist-crafted item. The fact that the glass panes remain sealed indicates it has not been 'deactivated,' unlike many exported objects of this style. The presence of bilongo implies that the object retains its magical charge. The sculpture is quite well-made, though less detailed than 19th-century fetishes. The wood shows a natural, cracked, and dusty patina, a testament to its age. The rare preservation of the bilongo enhances the ethnographic interest of this piece.

29.5cm in height, 16-17cm in width, approximately 12cm in depth with the nails. Very good overall condition, a few discreet small scratches on the wood, patina wear, harmonious overall. A very beautiful piece for an experienced collector. About 700g.