Torc / necklace / choker - Fang - Gabon
05
days
15
hours
15
minutes
42
seconds
Current bid
€ 6
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 280 - € 330
 | €6 | |
|---|---|---|
| €2 | |
 | €1 |
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Fang bronze torque collar from Gabon, a late 19th–early 20th century piece weighing 2460 g with dimensions 40 × 205 × 160 mm, in excellent condition.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Gabon
Fang
Bronze
Height 40mm
Width: 205mm
Depth: 160mm
Weight: 2460g
This superb object in copper alloy cast using the lost-wax process brings your collection into the fascinating world of exchange currencies and prestige adornments from Central Africa.
Its craftsmanship and fine geometric decorations attribute it to the Fang people (a major cultural group spanning Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, southern Cameroon, and western Republic of the Congo). More precisely, this rigid and open object is a neck torque (torque necklace).
1. Origin and stylistic characteristics
Examination of this torque highlights the Fang blacksmiths’ mastery:
A complex molded section: The necklace features a massive semi-circular shape, curved to fit around the base of the neck. The external face is relief-sculpted with a pronounced median ridge (a crest), flanked by two concave grooves. This rigid geometry catches the light beautifully.
The incised decoration: In the central lower part, the sculptor included a rectangular cartouche adorned with triangles carved in fine parallel hatch marks (chevron or hourglass motifs). This type of geometric motif is frequently found on the shafts of Byeri reliquaries or Fang edged weapons.
The straightened ends: The torque ends in two flat edges that flare upward. These stops not only prevent the necklace from slipping when worn, but they also served to firmly bind the two ends with a cord or leather strap if needed.
2. Double use: Prestige ornament and exchange currency
In Central Africa, bronze, copper, and brass were precious metals, imported from afar or mined at great effort. Such a torque thus had a double function:
A symbol of power and high status (Adornment): This heavy necklace was worn exclusively by noble women, wives of clan chiefs, or eminent warriors during major ritual ceremonies or alliance councils. It was an ostentatious sign of wealth, protection, and social prestige within the village.
A marriage dowry and transaction currency (Exchange money): Just like shackles, ngindas, or the spearheads of mandjong, these massive torques served as a store of value and marriage currency. They were treasured by family heads and taken from the chest to seal marriages (dot payment), settle judicial compensations between clans, or finalize the purchase of high-value goods.
3. Symbolic meaning
Among the Fang, malleable and brilliant metal is intimately linked to the forge, a sacred art whose master (the blacksmith) is seen as a magician capable of taming fire and the earthly elements.
Wearing this torque in bronze or brass around the neck equaled surrounding oneself with a spiritual shield. The metal was believed to ward off bad influences, while the central geometric motifs reinforced the individual’s cultural ties to their clan and respect for the social order established by the ancestors. Its brown, smooth patina testifies to a venerable age and prolonged handling.
Antique object (potentially late 19th century or early 20th century).
Packages are shipped Monday through Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in France within 1 to 3 days via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide via Colissimo International.
We speak English
Mask African art Afrikanische Maskenkunst arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afrikanische Maskenkunst
Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano
Seller's Story
Passionate about World Arts and more specifically about African Art, we buy from collectors, former officials, military, health workers, public works staff who have worked in Africa and also in Côte d'Ivoire, from antique dealers and traders who roam across West Africa to find quality objects.
It is with pride that we present works that, beyond their power to beautify spaces, invite our collectors to resonate with the richness and depth of human expression through the most authentic art.
At Arts Ethniques Gallery, we have the privilege of offering our visitors an exclusive selection of artworks, all unique and original. Each piece presented is the outcome of a demanding artistic approach, driven by a singular vision and mastered craftsmanship, all elements that guarantee authenticity and value.
The works we offer are not industrial reproductions. They are individual creations, crafted with sensitivity and precision, each bearing its own story, identity and presence. Originality is the very foundation of our commitment to excellence. Thus, every mask and every statue in our collection is the subject of a rigorous selection, in order to preserve their rarity and singularity.
Acquiring a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery means owning a truly unique piece: a creation that embodies both talent, cultural memory and the expressive force of African art. It is also a lasting investment in a work whose artistic and emotional value transcends time.
We guarantee that every work leaving our gallery is an authentic piece, without replicas, bearing witness to the creativity, heritage and passion of the African artists who shaped them.
We invite you to participate in our gallery’s auctions with confidence. Each presented work is an original, unique and irreplaceable creation, selected with the greatest rigor to guarantee its authenticity and artistic value.
Whether you wish to enrich a personal collection or introduce an exceptional artwork into your space, Arts Ethniques Gallery offers a safe, transparent and professional setting to acquire remarkable pieces.
Art auctions are a privileged moment to discover rare works, capable of becoming the heart of a collection. Acquiring a work at our sales is not just buying an object: it is investing in a creation whose aesthetic value and cultural reach reinforce over time.
The pieces presented by Arts Ethniques Gallery testify not only to the talent and vision of the artists but also possess the ability to transform spaces and enrich the gaze of those who behold them.
Participating in our auctions is taking part in a singular experience, where the passion for art meets the rigors of collecting. Bidding on a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery goes beyond a simple transaction: it is a gesture of commitment and appreciation for art in its most authentic form.
We invite you to bid with passion and to join us in this adventure dedicated to discovery, transmission and celebration of art.
Perhaps your next heart piece is already waiting for you."
Translated by Google TranslateGabon
Fang
Bronze
Height 40mm
Width: 205mm
Depth: 160mm
Weight: 2460g
This superb object in copper alloy cast using the lost-wax process brings your collection into the fascinating world of exchange currencies and prestige adornments from Central Africa.
Its craftsmanship and fine geometric decorations attribute it to the Fang people (a major cultural group spanning Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, southern Cameroon, and western Republic of the Congo). More precisely, this rigid and open object is a neck torque (torque necklace).
1. Origin and stylistic characteristics
Examination of this torque highlights the Fang blacksmiths’ mastery:
A complex molded section: The necklace features a massive semi-circular shape, curved to fit around the base of the neck. The external face is relief-sculpted with a pronounced median ridge (a crest), flanked by two concave grooves. This rigid geometry catches the light beautifully.
The incised decoration: In the central lower part, the sculptor included a rectangular cartouche adorned with triangles carved in fine parallel hatch marks (chevron or hourglass motifs). This type of geometric motif is frequently found on the shafts of Byeri reliquaries or Fang edged weapons.
The straightened ends: The torque ends in two flat edges that flare upward. These stops not only prevent the necklace from slipping when worn, but they also served to firmly bind the two ends with a cord or leather strap if needed.
2. Double use: Prestige ornament and exchange currency
In Central Africa, bronze, copper, and brass were precious metals, imported from afar or mined at great effort. Such a torque thus had a double function:
A symbol of power and high status (Adornment): This heavy necklace was worn exclusively by noble women, wives of clan chiefs, or eminent warriors during major ritual ceremonies or alliance councils. It was an ostentatious sign of wealth, protection, and social prestige within the village.
A marriage dowry and transaction currency (Exchange money): Just like shackles, ngindas, or the spearheads of mandjong, these massive torques served as a store of value and marriage currency. They were treasured by family heads and taken from the chest to seal marriages (dot payment), settle judicial compensations between clans, or finalize the purchase of high-value goods.
3. Symbolic meaning
Among the Fang, malleable and brilliant metal is intimately linked to the forge, a sacred art whose master (the blacksmith) is seen as a magician capable of taming fire and the earthly elements.
Wearing this torque in bronze or brass around the neck equaled surrounding oneself with a spiritual shield. The metal was believed to ward off bad influences, while the central geometric motifs reinforced the individual’s cultural ties to their clan and respect for the social order established by the ancestors. Its brown, smooth patina testifies to a venerable age and prolonged handling.
Antique object (potentially late 19th century or early 20th century).
Packages are shipped Monday through Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in France within 1 to 3 days via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide via Colissimo International.
We speak English
Mask African art Afrikanische Maskenkunst arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afrikanische Maskenkunst
Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano
Seller's Story
Passionate about World Arts and more specifically about African Art, we buy from collectors, former officials, military, health workers, public works staff who have worked in Africa and also in Côte d'Ivoire, from antique dealers and traders who roam across West Africa to find quality objects.
It is with pride that we present works that, beyond their power to beautify spaces, invite our collectors to resonate with the richness and depth of human expression through the most authentic art.
At Arts Ethniques Gallery, we have the privilege of offering our visitors an exclusive selection of artworks, all unique and original. Each piece presented is the outcome of a demanding artistic approach, driven by a singular vision and mastered craftsmanship, all elements that guarantee authenticity and value.
The works we offer are not industrial reproductions. They are individual creations, crafted with sensitivity and precision, each bearing its own story, identity and presence. Originality is the very foundation of our commitment to excellence. Thus, every mask and every statue in our collection is the subject of a rigorous selection, in order to preserve their rarity and singularity.
Acquiring a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery means owning a truly unique piece: a creation that embodies both talent, cultural memory and the expressive force of African art. It is also a lasting investment in a work whose artistic and emotional value transcends time.
We guarantee that every work leaving our gallery is an authentic piece, without replicas, bearing witness to the creativity, heritage and passion of the African artists who shaped them.
We invite you to participate in our gallery’s auctions with confidence. Each presented work is an original, unique and irreplaceable creation, selected with the greatest rigor to guarantee its authenticity and artistic value.
Whether you wish to enrich a personal collection or introduce an exceptional artwork into your space, Arts Ethniques Gallery offers a safe, transparent and professional setting to acquire remarkable pieces.
Art auctions are a privileged moment to discover rare works, capable of becoming the heart of a collection. Acquiring a work at our sales is not just buying an object: it is investing in a creation whose aesthetic value and cultural reach reinforce over time.
The pieces presented by Arts Ethniques Gallery testify not only to the talent and vision of the artists but also possess the ability to transform spaces and enrich the gaze of those who behold them.
Participating in our auctions is taking part in a singular experience, where the passion for art meets the rigors of collecting. Bidding on a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery goes beyond a simple transaction: it is a gesture of commitment and appreciation for art in its most authentic form.
We invite you to bid with passion and to join us in this adventure dedicated to discovery, transmission and celebration of art.
Perhaps your next heart piece is already waiting for you."
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Indigenous object name
Torc / necklace / choker
Ethnic group/ culture
Fang
Country of Origin
Gabon
Material
Bronze
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Excellent condition
Sold by
