Reliquary for ancestor worship. - City / Bakota - Gabon

Gabon Kota Metal, wood, eyes are bone Height: 710mm + base 50mm Width: 235mm Depth: 100mm Statue reliquary guardian figure of the Kota people of Gabon in wood covered with brass plates - Eyes are bone - Damage due to wood-boring insects on the right side of the base, see detail photo and photos of the lower part of the reliquary. This sculpture is a reliquary guardian figure for baskets of ancestors, originating from the Kota people (or Mahongwé / Shamaye according to sub-groups), an ethnic group living mainly to the east of Gabon and to the west of the Republic of Congo (Central Africa). Historically called Mbulu Ngulu, it bears witness to a remarkable mastery of geometric abstraction, marrying wood and metal in an intimate way. 1. Stylistic Characteristics and Composition This work presents a 2D aesthetic instantly recognizable, characteristic of the great artistic styles of the Ogooué: • The metal-wood alloy: The piece’s framework is carved from hard wood, entirely covered on its front face with brass or copper plates and lamellae nailed on. The polished yellow metal symbolized light, purity, and the power to repel dark forces. • The oval face and its decorations: The central face is an oval, slightly convex, structured by a zigzag midline and radiating relief striations. The eyes, semi-circular, are inlaid at the center with dark pupils. A small nasal ridge and a discreet mouth complete this austere, monumental face. • The crescent headdress: The head is topped with an imposing crescent-shaped headdress (moon or mitre), adorned with dotted and geometric square motifs. On either side of the face, large enveloping lateral fins terminate in cylindrical pendants. • The diamond pedestal: The sculpture’s base does not depict realistic legs, but a stylized hollow wooden diamond, its upper part veneered with metal engraved with chevrons. The raw wood reverse shows weathering, tool marks, and an ancient sacrificial patina. 2. Use and Ritual Function: The Ancestor Cult (Bwete) Unlike classical statues, the Mbulu Ngulu was not displayed in isolation and was not meant to be worn as a mask: • Guardian of the reliquary: This stylized anthropomorphic figure served as a spiritual sentinel. The lower diamond-shaped pedestal was directly inserted and bound inside or above a Bwete basket made of bark or wicker. This basket contained the bone relics (skulls, long bones) of illustrious ancestors of the lineage (chiefs, great hunters, healers). • Protection and intercession: Placed in the darkness of sacred compartments, the guardian protected the relics from profaners, sorcerers, or evil spirits. The brass was regularly rubbed to keep it shining and maintain its magical efficacy. • Consultation of the lineage: During family crises, epidemics, hunting departures, or youth initiations, the initiates would remove the baskets of relics. They paid homage to the ancestors with libations and sacrifices to obtain their protection, fertility, and guidance. Packages are shipped Monday through Saturday with insurance and tracking number. Delivery in France within 1 to 3 days by Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union. Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide by Colissimo International. We speak english Mask of African art African Mask Art arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane statue African art Statue of African art arte delle statue africane arte delle statue africane African Mask Art

估價:$168.09

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