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a wooden statue of an elephant with a helmet on it ' s heada wooden statue of an elephant with a helmet on it ' s headan old wooden statue of a man sitting on a stoola wooden statue of a man sitting on a stoolan image of a statue of a person with a hat on it ' s heada wooden statue of a man with a helmet on his heada close up of a statue of a person wearing a helmet
AGUTTES

94 - DJEM Djem fetish (or nzimu?)
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Estimate €400 - €600
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Description
DJEM Djem fetish (or nzimu?) 20th century. Height: 64 cm Heavy wood. A face that is half-human, half-animal. A massive, stocky anthropomorphic figure with bent legs. The limbs resemble elephant’s legs. The eyes are inlaid with cowrie shells (Monetaria moneta). The gaze is sombre. An aggressive tension emanates from the whole figure. Provenance: Pierre Redouin Collection. Description: Djem fetishes serve a similar purpose to the nkisi nkonde fetishes of the Congo; they refer to the most formidable secrets of the spirituality of the peoples of the Upper Sangha, on the border between Gabon, the Congo and Cameroon. Unlike the kwèlé mask, which aims to promote social harmony, the djem fetish is an object of pure power, intended to provide individual or clan protection against invisible threats. It is not merely a wooden object; it is a receptacle for energies. It is the ultimate bulwark against the evur (internal witchcraft) and is believed to devour the energy of sorcerers seeking to attack the clan. It was consulted before major expeditions into the forest to secure the favour of the bush spirits. Oaths were sworn upon the djem. Anyone who lied before the fetish risked a violent death or a devastating illness. Although it is a fetish, the djem is intrinsically linked to ancestor worship. The power within it is activated by the spirit of a powerful ancestor or a mighty warrior. The owner of the fetish must maintain a contractual relationship with it by honouring it; otherwise, the fetish may turn its power against its owner.
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About the sale The Breath of the Spirits: The Collection of Pierre Redouin and Others
Auction location
Auction time 09/24/2026 at 2:30 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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