Old Nkisi - power figure from Congo - Nkisi Nkondi - Bakongo - DR Congo (No reserve price)
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Current bid
€ 45
No reserve price
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Selected by Julien Gauthier
With almost a decade of experience bridging science, museum curation, and traditional blacksmithing, Julien has developed a unique expertise in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 120 - € 180
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Oude Nkisi - krachtbeeld uit Congo is a Nkisi Nkondi of the Bakongo people from the Democratic Republic of Congo, with provenance from the Fofana Sankoung collection.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Nkisi Nkondi - A powerful fetish figure, in which nails have been driven to activate the figure's power. The cavity near the navel is filled with sacred materials and herbs to house the spirit of the ancestor.
An Nkisi is a figure in which a spirit resides or an object inhabited by a spirit. Communication with ancestors and belief in the efficacy of their powers are closely linked to the minkisi (plural for Nkisi) in the tradition of the Kongo peoples. They are assembled by 'banganga', healers, witches, and mediators who protect the living from black magic and provide remedies against illnesses. They do this, among other ways, by creating minkisi. An Nkisi is also used for healing or to increase success in hunting or trade.
Nkisi Nkondi are minkisi that focus on recording vows and agreements and are seen as protectors against evil. He often adopts a threatening stance.
Minkisi contain herbs, earth, and other spiritually charged substances in the cavity near the navel and in the collar around the neck, such as earth or relics from the grave of a powerful individual as the main component. The metal objects represent the active role of the minkisi during a ritual or ceremony. A nail can also symbolize a vow, a signed treaty, or an effort to banish evil.
Ultimately, these figures usually represent reflections of socially unacceptable behavior and attempts to correct it. They are often applied to a variety of objects used throughout the Congo Basin in Central Africa.
This Nkisi has hand-forged nails and a beautiful patina. It stands on its own. It is in good condition. The Nkisi was part of the collection of Fofana Sankoung, a respected African art dealer who, between the 1960s and 1990s, brought important African art from West Africa to galleries in, among other places, Amsterdam.
Seller's Story
Rootz Gallery has an extensive collection of remarkable art objects from the non-Western world and a collection of modern and contemporary art. The art collection originally started with the gathering of modern and contemporary art. Due to a long-standing fascination with other cultures, it was quickly expanded to include non-Western art objects. The gallery has primarily focused on non-Western art for a long time, but has recently also refocused on modern and contemporary art.
Many pieces originate from ritual contexts and have been carefully collected over a period of 40 years. The items, often acquired during travels and coming from old collections, offer a unique insight into authentic cultures and traditions.
Translated by Google TranslateNkisi Nkondi - A powerful fetish figure, in which nails have been driven to activate the figure's power. The cavity near the navel is filled with sacred materials and herbs to house the spirit of the ancestor.
An Nkisi is a figure in which a spirit resides or an object inhabited by a spirit. Communication with ancestors and belief in the efficacy of their powers are closely linked to the minkisi (plural for Nkisi) in the tradition of the Kongo peoples. They are assembled by 'banganga', healers, witches, and mediators who protect the living from black magic and provide remedies against illnesses. They do this, among other ways, by creating minkisi. An Nkisi is also used for healing or to increase success in hunting or trade.
Nkisi Nkondi are minkisi that focus on recording vows and agreements and are seen as protectors against evil. He often adopts a threatening stance.
Minkisi contain herbs, earth, and other spiritually charged substances in the cavity near the navel and in the collar around the neck, such as earth or relics from the grave of a powerful individual as the main component. The metal objects represent the active role of the minkisi during a ritual or ceremony. A nail can also symbolize a vow, a signed treaty, or an effort to banish evil.
Ultimately, these figures usually represent reflections of socially unacceptable behavior and attempts to correct it. They are often applied to a variety of objects used throughout the Congo Basin in Central Africa.
This Nkisi has hand-forged nails and a beautiful patina. It stands on its own. It is in good condition. The Nkisi was part of the collection of Fofana Sankoung, a respected African art dealer who, between the 1960s and 1990s, brought important African art from West Africa to galleries in, among other places, Amsterdam.
Seller's Story
Rootz Gallery has an extensive collection of remarkable art objects from the non-Western world and a collection of modern and contemporary art. The art collection originally started with the gathering of modern and contemporary art. Due to a long-standing fascination with other cultures, it was quickly expanded to include non-Western art objects. The gallery has primarily focused on non-Western art for a long time, but has recently also refocused on modern and contemporary art.
Many pieces originate from ritual contexts and have been carefully collected over a period of 40 years. The items, often acquired during travels and coming from old collections, offer a unique insight into authentic cultures and traditions.
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Indigenous object name
Nkisi Nkondi
Ethnic group/ culture
Bakongo
Country of Origin
DR Congo
Period
2000-2010
Material
Canvas, Glass, Iron (cast/wrought), Wood
Condition
Good condition
Title of artwork
Old Nkisi - power figure from Congo
Height
55 cm
Width
35 cm
Depth
29.5 cm
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