NKISI/VILI
NKISI/VILI
Yombe/Vili nkisi statuette (Kongo).
20th century.Height: 45 cm.An IR spectroscopy dating certificate (G. Matthaes patent) from the Museo d’Arte e Scienza, Milan, no. 8AO-8231, indicates the date as 1950 ± 6 years.Heavy wood. The head is light brown in colour and the rest of the body is dark, with cord, fabric and seeds. The headdress is held in place by a fine raffia cord. The face is finely carved, notably featuring distinctly marked and highly decorative brow ridges. The ears, nose and lips are finely carved. The body is covered with dark seeds fixed in place by a dark resin. It features a ventral mirror. The toenails are clearly defined.This fetish conveys a sense of benevolence. The profusion of seeds forming its torso is intended to bring wealth and prosperity. The male genitalia are emphasised to reinforce the statuette’s fertility powers. The head is oversized. It reveals glass eyes with divinatory powers. The fixed gaze seems to scrutinise the afterlife in a timeless manner.
NKISI/VILI
Yombe/Vili nkisi statuette (Kongo).
20th century.Height: 45 cm.An IR spectroscopy dating certificate (G. Matthaes patent) from the Museo d’Arte e Scienza, Milan, no. 8AO-8231, indicates the date as 1950 ± 6 years.Heavy wood. The head is light brown in colour and the rest of the body is dark, with cord, fabric and seeds. The headdress is held in place by a fine raffia cord. The face is finely carved, notably featuring distinctly marked and highly decorative brow ridges. The ears, nose and lips are finely carved. The body is covered with dark seeds fixed in place by a dark resin. It features a ventral mirror. The toenails are clearly defined.This fetish conveys a sense of benevolence. The profusion of seeds forming its torso is intended to bring wealth and prosperity. The male genitalia are emphasised to reinforce the statuette’s fertility powers. The head is oversized. It reveals glass eyes with divinatory powers. The fixed gaze seems to scrutinise the afterlife in a timeless manner.
