CONGOLESE VILI WOODEN DECORATED FETISH. A Central African hand-carved wooden fetish sculpture. Vili culture, Congo. The piece represents a cat (or canine) with collar made of locks and keys. The locks and keys may symbolize protection, authority, or the binding of oaths and agreements within the community. The Vili people, an ethnic sub-group residing in Congo, have a rich tradition of creating wooden sculptures depicting aspects of daily life, community roles, or ancestral lineage. They can be used in various contexts, such as personal devotion, ancestral veneration, or as symbolic representations of cultural identity. - Height: 10 inches. Estimate $150-250
