Dog-shaped nkisi fetish, Kongo, Democratic Republic of the Congo Second half of the 20th century Length: 43 cm Wood, nails, and mirror. Depicted in the form of a dog and studded with nails, this nkisi belongs to the tradition of objects of power from the Kongo Kingdom. Activated by a nganga (ritual specialist), it was intended for protection, conflict resolution, or the enforcement of oaths. This relatively late example attests to the continuity of these traditions right up to the final stages of their development. Provenance: Parisian gallery, acquired in 1996.