Ancestral Fetish - Songye - DR Congo
01
day
22
hours
46
minutes
59
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
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Selected by Dimitri André
Holds a postgraduate degree in African studies and 15 years experience in African art.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
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Description from the seller
Congo RDC
Tchokwé / Chokwé
Wood and raffia
Height: 305mm
Width: 75mm
Depth: 80mm
This 30 cm high wooden anthropomorphic statue takes us to the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), at the heart of Songye culture (and the nearby Luba cultural area).
This statuette is a ritual or magical object; more precisely, it is an Nkishi (plural Mankishi). It is a receptacle of spiritual forces designed to protect the community or an individual against invisible assaults.
1. Analysis of Songye stylistic codes shows the morphological elements typical of statuary from this region:
The cube-shaped head and the diamond-shaped face: the features are powerfully geometric. The forehead is wide and open, the eyes carved almond-shaped and protruding like coffee beans, and the nose is straight and pointed. The mouth, very expressive, takes a form of a “rectangle” or an elongated “eight,” typical of the classic Songye canon.
The position of the hands on the abdomen: the arms form rigid right angles and the hands rest on either side of a prominent, protruding navel. Among the Songye, the belly is the seat of vital force, lineage, and soul.
The metallic element at the waist: a raffia thread tightly encircles the statue’s waist. The addition of this “belt” aims to bind or contain the magical charge of the object, while increasing its defensive power against sorcery.
The top of the skull: one can glimpse a small cavity or trace at the very top of the head. Traditionally, Songye inserted a horn of céphalophe (a small antelope) containing magical substances there.
2. Ritual use: The Nkishi personal or familial
Given its size of 30 cm, this object falls into the category of medium-sized Mankishi, intended for family or personal use, unlike the very large community statues over a meter tall that protected the entire village.
The work of the diviner (Nganga): The sculptor only created the wooden body shell. The statue became active only after the Nganga’s intervention (the priest-diviner). It is he who charges the object by adding bishimba, a secret mixture of magical, vegetal, animal, and mineral substances hidden in the navel or at the top of the skull.
A spiritual shield: Once activated, the statue was kept in the home. It served to protect the family against diseases, to promote fertility in women, to ensure good harvests, and to repel the attacks of night sorcerers (ndoki).
3. Meaning: A channel of communication with the hereafter
For the Songye, the Nkishi is not an idol to be worshipped for itself, but a technological and spiritual tool. It serves as a tangible anchor point to attract a benevolent spirit or an ancestor and compel it to act as a protective guardian for the living.
The brown patina, nuanced and smooth, shows that the piece has been handled and kept at the heart of the home, evidence of prolonged integration into the daily life of its former owners.
Packages are sent from Monday to Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery between 1 and 3 days in France with Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide with Colissimo International.
We speak english
Mask african art Afrikanische Maskenkunst arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane
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 TranslateCongo RDC
Tchokwé / Chokwé
Wood and raffia
Height: 305mm
Width: 75mm
Depth: 80mm
This 30 cm high wooden anthropomorphic statue takes us to the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), at the heart of Songye culture (and the nearby Luba cultural area).
This statuette is a ritual or magical object; more precisely, it is an Nkishi (plural Mankishi). It is a receptacle of spiritual forces designed to protect the community or an individual against invisible assaults.
1. Analysis of Songye stylistic codes shows the morphological elements typical of statuary from this region:
The cube-shaped head and the diamond-shaped face: the features are powerfully geometric. The forehead is wide and open, the eyes carved almond-shaped and protruding like coffee beans, and the nose is straight and pointed. The mouth, very expressive, takes a form of a “rectangle” or an elongated “eight,” typical of the classic Songye canon.
The position of the hands on the abdomen: the arms form rigid right angles and the hands rest on either side of a prominent, protruding navel. Among the Songye, the belly is the seat of vital force, lineage, and soul.
The metallic element at the waist: a raffia thread tightly encircles the statue’s waist. The addition of this “belt” aims to bind or contain the magical charge of the object, while increasing its defensive power against sorcery.
The top of the skull: one can glimpse a small cavity or trace at the very top of the head. Traditionally, Songye inserted a horn of céphalophe (a small antelope) containing magical substances there.
2. Ritual use: The Nkishi personal or familial
Given its size of 30 cm, this object falls into the category of medium-sized Mankishi, intended for family or personal use, unlike the very large community statues over a meter tall that protected the entire village.
The work of the diviner (Nganga): The sculptor only created the wooden body shell. The statue became active only after the Nganga’s intervention (the priest-diviner). It is he who charges the object by adding bishimba, a secret mixture of magical, vegetal, animal, and mineral substances hidden in the navel or at the top of the skull.
A spiritual shield: Once activated, the statue was kept in the home. It served to protect the family against diseases, to promote fertility in women, to ensure good harvests, and to repel the attacks of night sorcerers (ndoki).
3. Meaning: A channel of communication with the hereafter
For the Songye, the Nkishi is not an idol to be worshipped for itself, but a technological and spiritual tool. It serves as a tangible anchor point to attract a benevolent spirit or an ancestor and compel it to act as a protective guardian for the living.
The brown patina, nuanced and smooth, shows that the piece has been handled and kept at the heart of the home, evidence of prolonged integration into the daily life of its former owners.
Packages are sent from Monday to Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery between 1 and 3 days in France with Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide with Colissimo International.
We speak english
Mask african art Afrikanische Maskenkunst arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane
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
Ancestral Fetish
Ethnic group/ culture
Songye
Country of Origin
DR Congo
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
