Old African,*NKONDI NKISI NAIL FETISH*,Figure,Santeria Start Price USD 199.99 Current Price USD 199.99 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Friday, September 05, 2008 End Time Sunday, September 07, 2008 Location New Jersey See more about 'Old African,*NKONDI NKISI NAIL FETISH*,Figure,Santeria' Description                 Old African,*NKONDI NKISI NAIL FETISH*,Figure,Santeria Description Old African*NKONDI NKISI NAIL FETISH*Figure Dimensions 24"H x 10"W x 10"D Age cracks Late 19th-Early 2oth Century Origin Zaire ,Congo Fetishes were protective figures 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. The diviner, or fetishist, operates in principle for the good of all. His help is sought in times of need, for he is seen as the mediator between members of the tribe and all the powers of darkness. For this reason he also acts as healer. The various attempts to influence the fearsome powers of the supernatural through the mediation of statues or fetishes have acquired particular intensity in the regions round the mouth of the River Congo, home of the Kongo, Yombe and Vili tribes, and this is also the case in the east of Zaire, among the Songye. Magical objects were for many years little known in Europe, as Christian missionaries working in Africa tracked them down and had them burnt. Certain statues which were brought back to Europe by religious men, allegedly for documentation, were kept in secret and could not be studied. They were much feared for they seemed, even to European eyes, to have real power, a belief almost universally accepted in 17th-century Europe. Olfert Dapper was the first to look dispassionately at these "fetish" objects and to dare to describe them. Recent work has led to a better understanding. They are wooden carvings, either anthropomorphic or zoomorphic, which are covered with a variety of objects such as nails or metal blades. The cavities in their back or stomach contain "medicines" - grains, hairs, teeth or fingernails - which are held together with various binding materials. Pieces of fabric, feathers or lumps of clay are sometimes present. Finally, bits of mirror, shiny metal or shells are used to close the cavities or to mark the eyes The fetishist was primarily a witness, and an important one in view of his supposed relationship with the world of the supernatural. Woe to anyone who failed to keep his promise! The Nkonde, as guardian of collective memory, would inflict sudden sickness on any defaulter, or even bring about his death, but he protected the innocent. The Nkonde's face is always aggressive and deliberately terrifying; the mouth is always open, as if shouting a warning to the person making a vow.      Receive my Email Newsletters for Great Discounts!! MyStoreMaps improve local and international eBay sales.   Payment  Payment must be made within 7 days of end of action/sale. If you are bidding in multiple items,please wait until your last item ends to checkout. WE COMBINED SHIPPING to save you money and our last e-mail invoice will reflect the adjusted shipping cost. Shipping All items are carefully packed & shipped after payment received/cleared. unless otherwise specified in the item description shipping will be made via USPS parcel post.Shipping upgrade to USPS priority mail is available & optional(Please contact seller for adjusted shipping fees).  We ship worldwide. USPS Priority mail International, shipping rates to be determined by buyer location,insurance optional. INTERNACIONAL BIDDERS PLEASE READ THIS!! WE PROVIDE 2 WAYS OF SHIPPING INTERNACIONAL EXPRESS MAIL INTERNACIONAL , PROVIDES TRACKING NUMBER . ( 4 TO 6  BUSINESS DAYS) PRIORITY MAIL INTERNACIONAL , DOES NOT PROVIDE TRACKING  NUMBER . (6 TO 10 BUSINESS DAYS) Terms of Sale All items are sold as described,what you see is what you get. Contact Us If you have any questions feel free to contact us anytime. amazingpsychicreading@amazingpsychicreading.com                 Place a Bid!