Fetiche With Nails Nkonde Statue, Kongo Nkisi Democratic Republic Of Congo

Bakongo nail fetish, plinth-mounted, total height 53 cm with plinth and 50 without, bristling with numerous and varied forged nails ....
In use, contrary to popular belief, these fetishes are positive, helping villagers. They may look a little frightening, but this is to scare away evil spirits, and the eyes are regularly coated with white kaolin to make the piercing gaze stand out.
The principle is simple: a person has a request concerning his health, his wealth, his search for love ... he goes to the shaman with a point, the shaman in a trance, licks it and plants it in the fetish to fix the request with possibly a sacrifice.
These fetishes are still active in certain regions, this one must date from the 1940s/50s, from a Parisian collection, they have become very rare on the market given the infatuation of the younger generations for these very decorative objects.
The photos are a little shiny because of the spotlights.
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