NKISI
NKISI
Kongo nkisi nkonde statuette.
20th century.Height: 80 cm; Width: 30 cm.An IR spectroscopy dating certificate (G. Matthaes patent) from the Museo d’Arte e Scienza, Milan, no. 3AD-2806, indicates the date as 1946 ± 6 years.Hardwood, studded with nails, with a dark patina.In this figure, the head takes on particular significance in relation to the rest of the body. The forehead, accentuated by three lines of eyebrows, is prominent. The nose, with upturned nostrils, is boldly defined.The glass eyes have a white background and reveal a central black pupil. The belly contains a cavity sealed by a piece of glass. This mirror enables the nkisi to identify the problem, the enemies and the source of the malevolence.The knees are marked by a sharply pronounced point, like the tips of knee-guards on a suit of medieval armour, which adds to the warlike dynamism conveyed by the erect, sabre-shaped penis and the sabre held in the hand.The body is pierced with multiple spikes, around which ropes are woven to permanently bind the spirit to the statuette. Shells and animal skins reinforce the statuette’s powers.The raised right hand holds a spear, whilst the left hand holds a dagger.The massive legs lend credibility to the strength attributed to the fetish. The fetish is intended to ward off evil spirits for protection, but also to pursue them until they are eliminated, hence its ambivalence.
NKISI
Kongo nkisi nkonde statuette.
20th century.Height: 80 cm; Width: 30 cm.An IR spectroscopy dating certificate (G. Matthaes patent) from the Museo d’Arte e Scienza, Milan, no. 3AD-2806, indicates the date as 1946 ± 6 years.Hardwood, studded with nails, with a dark patina.In this figure, the head takes on particular significance in relation to the rest of the body. The forehead, accentuated by three lines of eyebrows, is prominent. The nose, with upturned nostrils, is boldly defined.The glass eyes have a white background and reveal a central black pupil. The belly contains a cavity sealed by a piece of glass. This mirror enables the nkisi to identify the problem, the enemies and the source of the malevolence.The knees are marked by a sharply pronounced point, like the tips of knee-guards on a suit of medieval armour, which adds to the warlike dynamism conveyed by the erect, sabre-shaped penis and the sabre held in the hand.The body is pierced with multiple spikes, around which ropes are woven to permanently bind the spirit to the statuette. Shells and animal skins reinforce the statuette’s powers.The raised right hand holds a spear, whilst the left hand holds a dagger.The massive legs lend credibility to the strength attributed to the fetish. The fetish is intended to ward off evil spirits for protection, but also to pursue them until they are eliminated, hence its ambivalence.
