FANG MASK - Gabon

Origin. Gabon
Tribe name. Fang
Material. Wood
Dimension. H 40 W 18 cm
Shipping mode. Colissimo within 24-48h open.

This decorative mask is an emblematic example of the art of the Fang people, an Central African ethnic group mainly located in Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon. More precisely, it is a Ngil mask.
Long shape: The face is very stretched, heart-shaped or long oval, a distinctive mark of the Fang style that seeks to evoke a spiritual presence rather than faithfully copy human anatomy.
White pigment (Kaolin): The face is covered with white kaolin. This color is not chosen by chance: it symbolizes death, ancestors and spiritual clairvoyance.
The 'Heart' of the face: The brow ridges are strongly marked and descend to join the base of the nose, creating this characteristic heart-shaped form.
Minimalist features: The eyes are reduced to simple horizontal slits, and the nose is long and thin. The mouth is often absent or very discreet, emphasizing calm and authority.

This mask belongs to the Ngil secret society (the 'Gorilla'). Here was its role before its prohibition by the French colonial administration in the early 20th century:
Rendition of justice: The mask-bearers would appear at night in villages to detect witches or troublemakers. The mask represented a formidable justice force.
Protection: It also served to protect the community against malevolent spells.

It is interesting to note that this Fang mask style had a major influence on the history of Western art. In the early 20th century, artists such as Amedeo Modigliani and Pablo Picasso were fascinated by the purity of lines and the abstraction of these objects, which directly inspired the birth of modern art and cubism.