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Description
NZÉBI
‘Janus’-type fetish head.
20th century.
Height: 37 cm.
Heavy wood, headdress made of braided raffia, spikes and cords.
The two ‘Janus’-like faces of this sculpture are each half-painted with white kaolin (symbolising the spirit world) and red dye (symbolising the life force) made from padauk, whilst the headdress reveals a black hue (symbolising the material world).
The bird feathers that were attached to the headdress serve to attract spirits.
The nails driven into the base of the statuette, connected by cords, serve to activate the object and bear witness to the use of this fetish, whose form is very similar to that of Kongo fetishes, particularly in its glass eyes, which in particular express the vision of the invisible.
This ability is reinforced by the ‘Janus’-style structure of the head, symbolising the fetish’s dual vision through its capacity to ‘see’ both the past (the ancestors, tradition) and the future (the descendants, the clan’s destiny). The ‘Janus’ form also expresses omniscience through a complete vision of both worlds: the visible world of the living and the invisible world of the spirits.
Provenance:
Pierre Redouin Collection.
Bibliography:
Published in *Le Souffle des Esprits*, Les Éditions de l’Amateur, Pierre & Hadrien Redouin, 2012, p. 151.
Description:
Typologically, ‘Janus’ heads were used during judicial rites to identify those guilty of crimes or witchcraft: the fetish saw the truth hidden behind appearances. They were often used by the Mwiri men’s society, which regulated the social and political life of the group.
See original version (French)
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About the sale
The Breath of the Spirits: The Collection of Pierre Redouin and Others
Auction location
Auction time
24/09/2026 à 14h30
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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