Fetish "nsiki" with studs - Kongo / Bakongo - DR Congo
Opens 13 May
Starting bid
€ 1
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Expert
Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 280 - € 330
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Description from the seller
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC Congo)
Kongo
Wood, nails.
Height: 245mm
Width: 100mm
Depth: 110mm
Nail fetishes, called nkisi nkondi in the Kongo culture (regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo), were very powerful ritual objects used in social, spiritual, and judicial life.
They served:
1. to enforce oaths. When two people concluded an agreement (trade, alliance, promise), a nail was driven into the statue to “activate” the oath. If someone betrayed their word, the nkisi was believed to punish him (illness, bad luck, etc.).
2. to administer justice
The nkisi nkondi acted as a kind of spiritual judge.
It was used to:
- resolve conflicts
- uncover a culprit
- protect the truth
3. Protection against evil
These statues also served to repel:
- sorcerers (seen as malevolent)
- evil spirits
- diseases
4. “Chase” or neutralize a harmful force
The word nkondi can be translated as “hunter.”
The statue is supposed to track down and capture negative forces.
Why the nails?
Each nail (or blade, piece of metal) driven into the statue corresponds to:
a request
an oath
a spiritual intervention
The more nails there are, the more it signified that the statue has been used often and is considered powerful.
Who used them?
A specialist called nganga (a kind of healer/priest) activated the nkisi with:
rituals
sacred words
substances (plants, powders, etc.)
The parcels are sent from Monday to Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in France within 1 to 3 days via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery in the rest of Europe and worldwide via Colissimo International.
We speak english
Mask african art African mask art arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afrikanische Maskenkunst
Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano
Seller's Story
Passionate about World Arts and more specifically about African Art, we buy from collectors, former officials, military, health workers, public works staff who have worked in Africa and also in Côte d'Ivoire, from antique dealers and traders who roam across West Africa to find quality objects.
It is with pride that we present works that, beyond their power to beautify spaces, invite our collectors to resonate with the richness and depth of human expression through the most authentic art.
At Arts Ethniques Gallery, we have the privilege of offering our visitors an exclusive selection of artworks, all unique and original. Each piece presented is the outcome of a demanding artistic approach, driven by a singular vision and mastered craftsmanship, all elements that guarantee authenticity and value.
The works we offer are not industrial reproductions. They are individual creations, crafted with sensitivity and precision, each bearing its own story, identity and presence. Originality is the very foundation of our commitment to excellence. Thus, every mask and every statue in our collection is the subject of a rigorous selection, in order to preserve their rarity and singularity.
Acquiring a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery means owning a truly unique piece: a creation that embodies both talent, cultural memory and the expressive force of African art. It is also a lasting investment in a work whose artistic and emotional value transcends time.
We guarantee that every work leaving our gallery is an authentic piece, without replicas, bearing witness to the creativity, heritage and passion of the African artists who shaped them.
We invite you to participate in our gallery’s auctions with confidence. Each presented work is an original, unique and irreplaceable creation, selected with the greatest rigor to guarantee its authenticity and artistic value.
Whether you wish to enrich a personal collection or introduce an exceptional artwork into your space, Arts Ethniques Gallery offers a safe, transparent and professional setting to acquire remarkable pieces.
Art auctions are a privileged moment to discover rare works, capable of becoming the heart of a collection. Acquiring a work at our sales is not just buying an object: it is investing in a creation whose aesthetic value and cultural reach reinforce over time.
The pieces presented by Arts Ethniques Gallery testify not only to the talent and vision of the artists but also possess the ability to transform spaces and enrich the gaze of those who behold them.
Participating in our auctions is taking part in a singular experience, where the passion for art meets the rigors of collecting. Bidding on a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery goes beyond a simple transaction: it is a gesture of commitment and appreciation for art in its most authentic form.
We invite you to bid with passion and to join us in this adventure dedicated to discovery, transmission and celebration of art.
Perhaps your next heart piece is already waiting for you."
Translated by Google TranslateDemocratic Republic of the Congo (DRC Congo)
Kongo
Wood, nails.
Height: 245mm
Width: 100mm
Depth: 110mm
Nail fetishes, called nkisi nkondi in the Kongo culture (regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo), were very powerful ritual objects used in social, spiritual, and judicial life.
They served:
1. to enforce oaths. When two people concluded an agreement (trade, alliance, promise), a nail was driven into the statue to “activate” the oath. If someone betrayed their word, the nkisi was believed to punish him (illness, bad luck, etc.).
2. to administer justice
The nkisi nkondi acted as a kind of spiritual judge.
It was used to:
- resolve conflicts
- uncover a culprit
- protect the truth
3. Protection against evil
These statues also served to repel:
- sorcerers (seen as malevolent)
- evil spirits
- diseases
4. “Chase” or neutralize a harmful force
The word nkondi can be translated as “hunter.”
The statue is supposed to track down and capture negative forces.
Why the nails?
Each nail (or blade, piece of metal) driven into the statue corresponds to:
a request
an oath
a spiritual intervention
The more nails there are, the more it signified that the statue has been used often and is considered powerful.
Who used them?
A specialist called nganga (a kind of healer/priest) activated the nkisi with:
rituals
sacred words
substances (plants, powders, etc.)
The parcels are sent from Monday to Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in France within 1 to 3 days via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery in the rest of Europe and worldwide via Colissimo International.
We speak english
Mask african art African mask art arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afrikanische Maskenkunst
Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano
Seller's Story
Passionate about World Arts and more specifically about African Art, we buy from collectors, former officials, military, health workers, public works staff who have worked in Africa and also in Côte d'Ivoire, from antique dealers and traders who roam across West Africa to find quality objects.
It is with pride that we present works that, beyond their power to beautify spaces, invite our collectors to resonate with the richness and depth of human expression through the most authentic art.
At Arts Ethniques Gallery, we have the privilege of offering our visitors an exclusive selection of artworks, all unique and original. Each piece presented is the outcome of a demanding artistic approach, driven by a singular vision and mastered craftsmanship, all elements that guarantee authenticity and value.
The works we offer are not industrial reproductions. They are individual creations, crafted with sensitivity and precision, each bearing its own story, identity and presence. Originality is the very foundation of our commitment to excellence. Thus, every mask and every statue in our collection is the subject of a rigorous selection, in order to preserve their rarity and singularity.
Acquiring a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery means owning a truly unique piece: a creation that embodies both talent, cultural memory and the expressive force of African art. It is also a lasting investment in a work whose artistic and emotional value transcends time.
We guarantee that every work leaving our gallery is an authentic piece, without replicas, bearing witness to the creativity, heritage and passion of the African artists who shaped them.
We invite you to participate in our gallery’s auctions with confidence. Each presented work is an original, unique and irreplaceable creation, selected with the greatest rigor to guarantee its authenticity and artistic value.
Whether you wish to enrich a personal collection or introduce an exceptional artwork into your space, Arts Ethniques Gallery offers a safe, transparent and professional setting to acquire remarkable pieces.
Art auctions are a privileged moment to discover rare works, capable of becoming the heart of a collection. Acquiring a work at our sales is not just buying an object: it is investing in a creation whose aesthetic value and cultural reach reinforce over time.
The pieces presented by Arts Ethniques Gallery testify not only to the talent and vision of the artists but also possess the ability to transform spaces and enrich the gaze of those who behold them.
Participating in our auctions is taking part in a singular experience, where the passion for art meets the rigors of collecting. Bidding on a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery goes beyond a simple transaction: it is a gesture of commitment and appreciation for art in its most authentic form.
We invite you to bid with passion and to join us in this adventure dedicated to discovery, transmission and celebration of art.
Perhaps your next heart piece is already waiting for you."
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Indigenous object name
Fetish "nsiki" with studs
Ethnic group/ culture
Kongo / Bakongo
Country of Origin
DR Congo
Material
Wood / iron nails
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Sold by
