Ngil Fang mask - Ngil - Gabon
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€ 1
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Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 220 - € 250
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Description from the seller
Origin: Gabon
Tribe name: Ngil
Material: Wood
Dimensions: H 40 cm L 20 cm
Shipping method: Colissimo within 24-48h; open.
This mask is a magnificent and emblematic piece of Fang art, a people primarily settled in Gabon, but also in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. It perfectly illustrates the stylistic codes specific to the Ngil secret society.
Slim silhouette: The face is elongated and slightly concave, typical of masks in this style.
Clean lines: The structure is characterized by a great economy of lines, favoring straight lines and harmonious curves over realistic anatomical details.
2. Visual and Aesthetic Elements
Polychromy (Colors): The contrast is striking between the white surface — obtained by applying kaolin (white clay) — and the dark wood visible beneath. In Fang culture, white is a highly symbolic color associated with the world of spirits, purity, and ancestors.
The eyes are represented by narrow horizontal slits, giving the mask an expression of serenity, introspection, or distant authority.
The nasal ridge: The nose is particularly long and slender, forming a vertical line that structures the entire face, starting at the forehead and descending to the small mouth.
The scarifications: Under the eyes, triangular incisions are visible. These scarifications recall traditional ritual markings used to identify ethnic belonging or social status.
Materials and Additions
Natural fibers: Tufts of fibers (raffia or plant fibers) are attached to the side of the mask and a string tied at the mouth. These elements indicate that this object was not meant to be displayed alone but as part of a full costume worn during ceremonies or dances.
This type of mask was traditionally used by the Ngil secret society.
Function: The Ngil society had a judicial and order-maintaining role within villages. Initiates, masked and costumed, appeared during ceremonies to identify troublemakers, drive away evil spirits, or settle internal conflicts.
The impression it produces: Through its minimalist design and its “ghostly” face (due to the white color), these masks were intended to inspire fear and respect, representing a spiritual force coming from the beyond to restore social balance.
It is a piece that combines powerful visual impact with very marked spiritual depth, typical of masterworks of Central African classical art.
Origin: Gabon
Tribe name: Ngil
Material: Wood
Dimensions: H 40 cm L 20 cm
Shipping method: Colissimo within 24-48h; open.
This mask is a magnificent and emblematic piece of Fang art, a people primarily settled in Gabon, but also in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. It perfectly illustrates the stylistic codes specific to the Ngil secret society.
Slim silhouette: The face is elongated and slightly concave, typical of masks in this style.
Clean lines: The structure is characterized by a great economy of lines, favoring straight lines and harmonious curves over realistic anatomical details.
2. Visual and Aesthetic Elements
Polychromy (Colors): The contrast is striking between the white surface — obtained by applying kaolin (white clay) — and the dark wood visible beneath. In Fang culture, white is a highly symbolic color associated with the world of spirits, purity, and ancestors.
The eyes are represented by narrow horizontal slits, giving the mask an expression of serenity, introspection, or distant authority.
The nasal ridge: The nose is particularly long and slender, forming a vertical line that structures the entire face, starting at the forehead and descending to the small mouth.
The scarifications: Under the eyes, triangular incisions are visible. These scarifications recall traditional ritual markings used to identify ethnic belonging or social status.
Materials and Additions
Natural fibers: Tufts of fibers (raffia or plant fibers) are attached to the side of the mask and a string tied at the mouth. These elements indicate that this object was not meant to be displayed alone but as part of a full costume worn during ceremonies or dances.
This type of mask was traditionally used by the Ngil secret society.
Function: The Ngil society had a judicial and order-maintaining role within villages. Initiates, masked and costumed, appeared during ceremonies to identify troublemakers, drive away evil spirits, or settle internal conflicts.
The impression it produces: Through its minimalist design and its “ghostly” face (due to the white color), these masks were intended to inspire fear and respect, representing a spiritual force coming from the beyond to restore social balance.
It is a piece that combines powerful visual impact with very marked spiritual depth, typical of masterworks of Central African classical art.
Details
Indigenous object name
Ngil
Number of objects
1
Country of Origin
Gabon
Period
Late 20th century
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
Yes
Condition
Good condition
Title of artwork
Ngil Fang mask
Height
40 cm
Width
20 cm
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