Fang reliquary head - Gabon
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Selected by Dimitri André
Holds a postgraduate degree in African studies and 15 years experience in African art.
Estimate € 220 - € 250
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Description from the seller
Origin: Gabon
Tribe name: Fang
Material: wood
Dimension: 44 cm
Shipping mode: Colissimo within 24-48h; unpack
Fang reliquary head (often called nlo bieri), an emblematic sculpture of the traditional art of Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
Face and features: The head presents the Fang's classical aesthetic canon: a heart- or concave-shaped face, with a domed and prominent forehead. The eyes are represented by incisions or small circular protrusions, and the mouth is highlighted by a protruding, full shape, typical of Fang style.
Hairstyle: The piece bears a distinctive coiffure, with lateral lobes framing the face and a central element at the top, reminiscent of traditional hairstyles that served to distinguish members of the society.
Structure and base: Unlike full bieri (standing statues), this is a head mounted on a cylindrical support with disks (collars) as a neck. This structure was designed to be fixed onto the lid of the bark box (nsuk) containing the ancestors' relics.
Cultural context: In Fang culture, the Bieri was the cult of the ancestors. These reliquaries served as receptacles for the bones of the lineage founders. The sculpture, placed above the box, acted as a symbolic guardian of the relics, protecting the group from harmful influences and invoking the wisdom of the ancestors.
The calm, almost serene expression, and the symmetry of this head reflect the Fang philosophy, focused on balance, self-control, and the continuity between the living and the dead.
Origin: Gabon
Tribe name: Fang
Material: wood
Dimension: 44 cm
Shipping mode: Colissimo within 24-48h; unpack
Fang reliquary head (often called nlo bieri), an emblematic sculpture of the traditional art of Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
Face and features: The head presents the Fang's classical aesthetic canon: a heart- or concave-shaped face, with a domed and prominent forehead. The eyes are represented by incisions or small circular protrusions, and the mouth is highlighted by a protruding, full shape, typical of Fang style.
Hairstyle: The piece bears a distinctive coiffure, with lateral lobes framing the face and a central element at the top, reminiscent of traditional hairstyles that served to distinguish members of the society.
Structure and base: Unlike full bieri (standing statues), this is a head mounted on a cylindrical support with disks (collars) as a neck. This structure was designed to be fixed onto the lid of the bark box (nsuk) containing the ancestors' relics.
Cultural context: In Fang culture, the Bieri was the cult of the ancestors. These reliquaries served as receptacles for the bones of the lineage founders. The sculpture, placed above the box, acted as a symbolic guardian of the relics, protecting the group from harmful influences and invoking the wisdom of the ancestors.
The calm, almost serene expression, and the symmetry of this head reflect the Fang philosophy, focused on balance, self-control, and the continuity between the living and the dead.
Details
Number of objects
1
Country of Origin
Gabon
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
Yes
Condition
Good condition
Title of artwork
Fang reliquary head
Height
44 cm
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
