Bapunou reliquary head - Gabon
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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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Tête de reliquaire Bapunou, a 44 cm wooden sculpture from Gabon by the Punu people, dating to the late 20th century, in good condition.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Origin. Gabon
Tribe name. Bapunou
Material. Wood
Dimension. 44
Shipping mode. Colissimo within 24-48h open.
This piece represented is an African wooden sculpture, whose style is characteristic of Punu art from Gabon.
The face: It features the typical traits of Punu masks and figures, with an idealized aesthetic. The face is oval, toned with a light patina (often obtained with kaolin), and displays eyes in the form of closed slits, a small mouth, and arched eyebrows. Geometric scarifications are also visible, notably on the forehead, a common motif in Punu iconography.
The hairstyle: The crown of the head is topped with a structured coiffure, typical of Punu aesthetic traditions, reminiscent of the complex hairstyle styles once worn by the women of this ethnic group.
The structure: Unlike classical anthropomorphic statuettes, this piece has a stylized and abstract form. The face is directly linked to a circular or oval shape that descends to a solid base, recalling the structure of a ring or loop.
The base and polychromy: The piece rests on a wide, dark, textured base, contrasting with the upper part. A clear chromatic transition is observed between the light face, the body of the loop in reddish-brown, and the dark base, highlighting traditional wood polychromy work.
This work testifies to the mastery of stylization in Punu art, where naturalistic human features are combined with symbolic geometric forms.
Origin. Gabon
Tribe name. Bapunou
Material. Wood
Dimension. 44
Shipping mode. Colissimo within 24-48h open.
This piece represented is an African wooden sculpture, whose style is characteristic of Punu art from Gabon.
The face: It features the typical traits of Punu masks and figures, with an idealized aesthetic. The face is oval, toned with a light patina (often obtained with kaolin), and displays eyes in the form of closed slits, a small mouth, and arched eyebrows. Geometric scarifications are also visible, notably on the forehead, a common motif in Punu iconography.
The hairstyle: The crown of the head is topped with a structured coiffure, typical of Punu aesthetic traditions, reminiscent of the complex hairstyle styles once worn by the women of this ethnic group.
The structure: Unlike classical anthropomorphic statuettes, this piece has a stylized and abstract form. The face is directly linked to a circular or oval shape that descends to a solid base, recalling the structure of a ring or loop.
The base and polychromy: The piece rests on a wide, dark, textured base, contrasting with the upper part. A clear chromatic transition is observed between the light face, the body of the loop in reddish-brown, and the dark base, highlighting traditional wood polychromy work.
This work testifies to the mastery of stylization in Punu art, where naturalistic human features are combined with symbolic geometric forms.
Details
Number of objects
1
Country of Origin
Gabon
Period
Late 20th century
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Title of artwork
Bapunou reliquary head
Height
44 cm
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