Kongo - Nkisi - Statue

Congo

Nkisi





Statue Height: 56cm Width: 25cm Depth: 18cm 1960/1970 Wood, metal, glass Condition: see photos The tribal fetishes of the Kongo kingdom have a magic charge generally housed on the abdomen behind
a mirror closing a cavity. A clay amalgam forms a dense crust around this circular shape. The statue is bristling with nails. The eyes with dark pupils are encrusted with glass. The Nkisi Kongo
Statues, originating from Congo DRC, are remarkable works of art charged with spiritual power. Carved in wood and sometimes adorned with pieces of colored glass, these statues represent
protective and healing spiritual entities in the Kongo tradition. They often display human and animal features, symbolizing the connection between the spirit world and the human world. Nkisi
Kongo are used in religious and therapeutic rituals, where they serve as mediators between humans and supernatural forces. Their imposing presence and striking aesthetics make them fascinating
objects of African art.