This is an antique, African, Bakongo, male figure, a nail fetish statue. African Bakongo nail fetishes are protective statues or figures used by individual Bakongo tribal members, and Bakongo families, or shared and used by the entire Bakongo village community where they are located communally. Bakongo nail fetishes were carved by the village woodcarvers and then the statutes were believed to have their powers activated by the hammering in of the nails and or other sharp metal objects which were normally done by the tribal shaman medicine man. These powerful fetishes were kept outside the housing compound to guard the owner and the owner's family against evil spirits, illness, or bad intentions including the evil eye, witchcraft, or magic. Nail fetish statues were normally made in the form of a male ancestor or a dog because these figures have the strong ability to protect, search out perpetrators, and are ever faithful to their owners. Also, these nail fetish statues were used to swear oaths on or to finalize contracts as it was believed the power of the statute's spirit would watch over the transactions. Often a small cavity is present on the statue that contains power ingredients such as roots, herbs, or other objects which are covered by a piece of glass or mirror - this is often called the power spot. The statue is approximately 6 inches high and 3 inches wide,and 2 inches thick

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