Reliquary Kota - Bakota - Gabon

Origin. Gabon
Tribe name. Bakota
Material. Wood, copper
Dimension. 58 cm
Shipping mode. Colissimo within 24-48h open.

Magnificent representation of Kota traditional art (originating mainly from Gabon, but also from the Republic of the Congo). More precisely, this is a reliquary figure, called Mbulu Ngulu.

These sculptures were not mere decorative objects. They served as guardians of reliquaries. The wooden base (often in a hollow diamond shape) was fixed to a basket containing the bones of important clan ancestors. They bridged the world of the living and the dead, protecting the relics from evil forces.

The structure is made of wood, but it is almost entirely covered with plates of precious metals for the period:
Copper and Brass: These metals were rare and symbolized wealth and power.
Here we notice the use of different tones (reddish for copper and gold for brass), creating a color play that emphasizes facial features.

The Face: Very stylized, oval and concave. One can see protruding eyes and vertical "tears" or scarifications under the eyes, typical of certain Kota sub-styles.
The Headdress: It is imposing and generally consists of a upper crescent and two lateral lobes (sometimes interpreted as a rich coiffure or jewelry of ears).
The Diamond: The lower part abstractly represents the body, reduced to its most geometric form to fit the reliquary basket.

This type of object had a major impact on European artists of the early 20th century, notably Picasso and the Cubists. Representing a face in a two-dimensional and geometric way radically changed Western modern art.
Note: The patina and assembly of this specific piece seem very clean, which suggests either an exceptionally well-preserved piece, or a traditional-style creation intended for the art market or for collection, because archaic pieces often show more marked metal erosion.