260976 - LARGE old African Fetisch Bakongo Nkisi Nkondi dog - Congo.

Large and Rare Old African Bakongo Fetisch Nkondi Dog statue from Congo.

Hand carved from a single piece of wood with glass eyes.Kongo fetish objects are renowned in African art.

The size are 46 cm long and 26 cm high.

This particular piece depicts a two-headed dog with eyes inlaid with shards of glass. The body separating the two heads is studded with nails, surrounding a central space that houses the magical charge. The Kongo use such objects to attempt to resolve a difficulty and to intimidate or ward off the person responsible for the problem.

"These sculptures—whether anthropomorphic or zoomorphic—were long classified as 'spirits of vengeance,' yet their function is far more ambivalent. It is only when the *nganga* completes the sculptor's work by driving nails into the *nkonde* that it acquires its magical charge. Its operation is not secretive; indeed, its mission is public. Once the afflictions and the parties responsible have been identified, the *nganga* activates the *nkonde*'s power by inserting a nail or iron blade—tokens of the request and, above all, of the agreement between the *nganga* and the client... Often perceived as malevolent, these figurines play an essential role in restoring social harmony.

Fetishes Nkondi nail statues were protective statues used by individuals, families, or whole communities to destroy or weaken evil spirits, prevent or cure illnesses, repel bad deeds, solemnize contracts or oath-taking, and decide arguments. A diviner or holy person would activate the statue, using magical substances. Fetishes gained 

power and were effective because people believed in them.

The nkondi are the most powerful of the nkisi. They were used to identify and hunt down unknown wrongdoers such as thieves, and people who were believed to cause sickness or death by occult means.
They were also used to punish people who swore false oaths and villages which broke treaties. To inspire the nkondi to action, it was both invoked and provoked.

Invocations, in bloodthirsty language, encouraged it to punish the guilty party. It would also be provoked by having gunpowder exploded in front of it, and having nails hammered into it. They were also used to literally "hammer out agreements"...with clear implications as to what would happen to people who broke the agreements.