Fetish Nkisi Nkonde - DR Congo
03
days
13
hours
28
minutes
45
seconds
Current bid
€ 55
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Dimitri André
Holds a postgraduate degree in African studies and 15 years experience in African art.
Estimate € 170 - € 200
 | €55 |
|---|
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Description from the seller
Origin. Democratic Republic of the Congo
Tribe name. Bakongo
Material. Wood. Nails
Dimensions. 28 cm
Shipping method. Colissimo in 24–48 hours
This statuette can be described as a nkisi nkonde from the Kongo (Bakongo) tradition—that is, a power figure intended to receive and embody a spiritual charge. However, its precise attribution, original function, and date cannot be established with certainty from the photograph alone.
The anthropomorphic figure is carved from wood and shown standing on an integrated base, with prominently rendered feet. The highly expressive face features attached or inlaid eyes, a slightly open mouth, and traces of pigment. The head is adorned with a substantial assembly of organic and textile materials. Several ties, fibers, cords, and attached elements are knotted around the neck and shoulders.
The most striking feature is the large circular charge placed on the abdomen. In the Kongo tradition, this type of receptacle may correspond to a power charge, often referred to by the term bilongo: it could contain various substances of plant, mineral, or animal origin, selected for their symbolic and ritual properties. The power of the nkisi therefore resided not solely in the sculpture itself, but in the combination of the figure, its charges, and its ritual activation.
The figure also carries several objects and bundles attached to its body, particularly at the shoulders and waist. Its raised arm holds or displays a small perforated element. Unlike the nkisi nkonde most readily recognized in Western collections, this figure is not covered with a multitude of nails and metal blades. The term nkonde should therefore be used with caution in the absence of provenance or older documentation: not all anthropomorphic minkisi are necessarily minkondi (“hunters”).
In the Kongo religious context, minkisi were used by ritual specialists, the nganga, in practices that could include protection, healing, conflict resolution, the enforcement of oaths, or combating forces considered harmful. Their exact function varied considerably according to the charge, the ritual, and the local context.
Origin. Democratic Republic of the Congo
Tribe name. Bakongo
Material. Wood. Nails
Dimensions. 28 cm
Shipping method. Colissimo in 24–48 hours
This statuette can be described as a nkisi nkonde from the Kongo (Bakongo) tradition—that is, a power figure intended to receive and embody a spiritual charge. However, its precise attribution, original function, and date cannot be established with certainty from the photograph alone.
The anthropomorphic figure is carved from wood and shown standing on an integrated base, with prominently rendered feet. The highly expressive face features attached or inlaid eyes, a slightly open mouth, and traces of pigment. The head is adorned with a substantial assembly of organic and textile materials. Several ties, fibers, cords, and attached elements are knotted around the neck and shoulders.
The most striking feature is the large circular charge placed on the abdomen. In the Kongo tradition, this type of receptacle may correspond to a power charge, often referred to by the term bilongo: it could contain various substances of plant, mineral, or animal origin, selected for their symbolic and ritual properties. The power of the nkisi therefore resided not solely in the sculpture itself, but in the combination of the figure, its charges, and its ritual activation.
The figure also carries several objects and bundles attached to its body, particularly at the shoulders and waist. Its raised arm holds or displays a small perforated element. Unlike the nkisi nkonde most readily recognized in Western collections, this figure is not covered with a multitude of nails and metal blades. The term nkonde should therefore be used with caution in the absence of provenance or older documentation: not all anthropomorphic minkisi are necessarily minkondi (“hunters”).
In the Kongo religious context, minkisi were used by ritual specialists, the nganga, in practices that could include protection, healing, conflict resolution, the enforcement of oaths, or combating forces considered harmful. Their exact function varied considerably according to the charge, the ritual, and the local context.
Details
Number of objects
1
Country of Origin
DR Congo
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Title of artwork
Fetish Nkisi Nkonde
Height
28 cm
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
