Bakongo - Nkisi fetish figure - Bakongo - DR Congo

Continuation and conclusion of our exceptional collection of nkisi (minkisi) Figurines - BAKONGO POWER

This set brings together a remarkable corpus of statues inspired by the Kongo tradition (Bakongo).

The coherence of the collection, the diversity of silhouettes, and the richness of the sculptural treatments make for a presentation that is particularly evocative of the ritual arts of the Kongo cultural area.

The figures stand out for their expressive faces, abdominal cavities, ligatures, vegetable fibers, textiles, feathers and other attached elements. These characteristics refer to the plastic vocabulary of minkisi (singular: nkisi), sculptures intended to embody a spiritual force or a specific function within Kongo societies. The term nkisi moreover goes beyond the Western notion of “fetish.” (Smithsonian National Museum of African Art)

In Kongo tradition, the sculptor shaped the figure before the nganga (ritual specialist) introduced the bilongo, substances placed in body cavities to concentrate power related notably to protection, healing, mediation, or the maintenance of social order. (The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

This set offers a particularly seductive panorama of one of the major sculptural repertoires of Central Africa.

Each figurine will be offered at auction individually, marking its first public sale presentation, thus giving collectors the opportunity to acquire a work within a collection of notable aesthetic and iconographic coherence.

Introduction to our appraisal house

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

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

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

Shipping is guaranteed within 24 hours, with careful packaging, insurance, and tracking.
Contact 7 days a week: we remain available for any questions or requests for additional information.