Statuette sogho - Gabon (No reserve price)

Origin. Gabon
Tribe name. Mitsogho
Material. Wood
Dimension. 32 cm
Shipping mode. Colissimo within 24-48h, open

This statuette is a characteristic work of the Tsogho (or Mitsogho) ethnic group from central Gabon. It fits into the rich artistic tradition related to Bwiti, a initiatory society of which the Tsogho are the main guardians.

The Head: It features a bulging forehead and strongly arched eyebrows outlined by dark pigments (often charcoal). The globular eyes, called "coffee bean" eyes, and the slightly open mouth revealing the teeth are typical of the Tsogho aesthetic canon.
The Face: The face is covered with kaolin (white clay), a symbol of purity, the world of ancestors, and spiritual clairvoyance.
The Chest: The interlaced diamond pattern (checkerboard or scales) on the abdomen is a major distinctive sign. It may represent ritual scars or cosmogonical motifs related to the order of the universe and the path of the initiate.

Wood and Pigments: The statue is carved in a semi-hard wood. A classic tripartite polychromy is observed: white (kaolin), red (padauk wood powder), and black (charcoal or smoke).

These statuettes, called gheonga or ghéonga, are not mere decorative objects. They have several roles:
Reliquary Figures: They were often placed above baskets containing the bones of illustrious ancestors to protect the lineage.
Objects of the Ebandza: They are used during ceremonies in the Bwiti temple (the ebandza). They serve as intercessors between the living and the invisible world of spirits.
Protection: The posture, with the hands often brought forward or holding attributes, symbolizes a vigilant and protective presence for the community.
Note: The Tsogho style is often confused with that of their Sango or Vuvi neighbors, but the compact body structure and the geometric decoration of the torso of this piece point directly to Mitsogho origin.