Statuette - ?? - DR Congo (No reserve price)

Kneeling statue – Vili / Sundi

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Old miniature Vili fetish, called Sundi, depicting a kneeling figure in a posture of contemplation and devotion. This type of sculpture, small in size but of great expressive intensity, occupied an essential place in ancient ritual and spiritual practices, serving as an intermediary between the world of the living and that of the invisible forces.

The kneeling posture, recurring in ancient Vili art, evokes both supplication, offering and respect toward ancestors or invoked powers. The figure holds a symbolic element in the hand, reinforcing the ritual dimension and the active use of the object. The proportions are balanced, the silhouette compact and powerful, despite the miniature format.

The face is particularly carefully worked: defined features, expressive gaze, emphasized mouth and a precisely sculpted beard. The aged patina, dark and deep, bears witness to long handling and prolonged use. It reinforces the piece’s authenticity and visual presence, while revealing wear consistent with its antiquity.

These antique Vili miniature fetishes are today highly sought after, both for their rarity and for their symbolic charge and sculptural quality. This is a premier collector’s item, sure to captivate both the seasoned collector and the aficionado of ancient African art in search of a strong, authentic piece loaded with meaning.

Provenance: former collection from a private Belgian family.

Presentation of our appraisal house

Based in Belgium, our appraisal and sales house specializes in African and ethnographic art. A reference seller on Catawiki for over 8 years, we enjoy a solid reputation and a history of several hundred sales with an almost 100% customer satisfaction rate.

We regularly assist with liquidations, successions and dispersals of collections, in collaboration with private individuals and families in Belgium and neighboring countries. Our approach is rigorous, transparent and accessible, with many sales offered without reserve prices.

Some pieces that have passed through our hands have joined international private collections and, for some, museum institutions.

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