English: Image of a man, stuck with nails and knives. Mirror in navel. Free carved feet standing on a block. Hands at hips. Stained white in most parts. Four flat pronged high headdress. Open mouth with teeth and tongue showing. Bracelets around biceps. Condition: Good

English: An nkisi nkondi served as a container for potent ingredients used in magic and medicine, in judicial and healing contexts. To make an nkisi nkondi, a Kongo carver began by sculpting a male human or animal figure with a cavity in the abdomen; a ritual expert then completed the work by placing ingredients with supernatural powers on the object and in the cavity provided. Nails and blades were driven into the figure, either to affirm an oath or to destroy an evil force.