Old Tribal Bakongo Mask with Fetish / Nkisi Nails and Head Cap. Manyanga Tribe. Kongo Kingdom. DRC. Africa
Click the photo above for a larger version and more pictures
The Manyanga tribe live on the right bank of the Zaire (aka Congo) River. The location is near the tributary of the Lefini River.
This is a relatively unknown tribe whose artists are known for their elongated faces, rounded cheeks, carefully rendered faces and nails.
This is a fetish that primarily functions to drive away sorcerers, witches and very evil spirits.
Carved from a single piece of wood with color pigments, abrus (aka jequirity) beans, nails, raffia fibers and cloth. On the forehead, there is a small box filled with medicine and closed with a mirror. In addition, the mask has glass/mirror eyes.
I was told that this mask was brought to the Netherlands in the late 1950s by a missionary family. It has been in the Netherlands until I acquired it recently.
Rare and old, suitable for the Serious Collector. Stand not included.
This mask as sold. Thanks C.R.