An ancient Nkisi statuette, an object reputed to be powerful and protective, still resting on its wrought-iron rod like a lightning rod that had been planted in the earth, having retained all its attributes and adorned with numerous forged copper nails characteristic of a corpus of Mankisi statues and statuettes whose piercings and additions of forged copper nails (in the head, bust and back) would find their interpretation in the fight against witchcraft, but also protection against epidemics. See: pp. 240 to 259 in Esprits Sacrés Songye, De Grunne & Pezzoli, 2022 Songye, Democratic Republic of the Congo 19th or early 20th century Wood, iron, forged copper nails, copper wire, leather and reptile skin, with a beautiful old oozing patina. H. 16.5 cm and 37.5 cm (with wrought-iron rod) Provenance : Monsieur V. Collection, Brussels, acquired on the Belgian market in the 1970s