Teke "Nkiba" Miniature
Origin: Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)
Dimensions: H: 5.25 inch (13 cm)
Materials: Wood
Provenance:
1. Pierre Loos, Belgium
2. John Giltsoff, Spain

The present figure is attributed to the Teke people who are today located in the Kwango River basin and in a swath across the three countries of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the People's Republic of the Congo and into Gabon. Their artistic activities are directed primarily to the carving of figures intended to have magical substances, known as Bonga, attached to them. Often called 'fetishes' in the West these powerful figures have different titles according to their purpose and who owns them. For example figures known as Matomba prevent and cure illnesses and other figures identified as nkira ntswo, represent ancestors and were used during a ritual to propitiate nature spirits. Figures are not considered complete or powerful until given energy through the application of the magical substances into the stomach cavity, or placed as a ball around the figure. this particular figure is eferred to as "Nkiba," and are extremely rare among the Teke, who, very often, use their famous magical figures, or fetishes, for a wide variety of purposes, from hunting talismans to fertility fetishes. The use of figures such as this without the magical additives is poorly understood. As in this examples Teke diviners and chiefs will sometimes remove fetish materials, called "bonga," from a figure, either to release it for sale or to re-use materials that were proven to be effective.

Price $3000