Selected Objects
Vili/Yombe Nsiba (Divination) Whistle, 19th Century, D. R. Congo.
Vili/Yombe Nsiba (Divination) Whistle, 19th Century, D. R. Congo.
Vili/Yombe Nsiba (Divination) Whistle, 19th Century, D. R. Congo.
Extremely rare type of a Vili/Yombe Nsiba whistle, with four heads on the wood part of the whistle. This whistle is from the 19th century. These type of whistles were used only by initiated men and important people because they have supernatural and magical powers. Diviner healers used them against witchcraft, protecting against diseases and misfortune. Hunters used them for signal to one another and to bewitch game. Hunter whistles usually have animal with hunter carvings on the wood part of the whistle. We believe this whistle with four heads on the wood part is a diviner healers whistle. The patina on this whistle is amazing, parts of the faces are worn-down by long using and the horn have a very nice shiny usage patina.
Provenance: From a Swedish private collection, has earlier been in another Swedish collection and from the latest collectors information from the beginning collected by a missionary in this area of Congo. First Swedish missionary stations in this part of Congo was started around 1880.
L. 17,5 cm. Wood part 8,5 cm
Price on request