Bapunou reliquary head - Gabon
02
days
11
hours
22
minutes
44
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
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Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 160 - € 200
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Tête de reliquaire Bapunou, a Gabonese sculpture created by the Bapunou people from Gabon in the late 20th century.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Origin. Gabon
Tribe name. Bapunou
Material. Wood
Dimension. 44
Shipping method. Colissimo within 24-48h, open.
This depicted piece is an African wooden decorative 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, tinted with a light patina (often obtained with kaolin), and features eyes shaped as closed slits, a small mouth and arched eyebrows. Geometric scarifications are also visible, notably on the forehead, a feature common in Punu iconography.
Hairstyle: The top of the head is crowned with a structured coiffure, typical of Punu aesthetic traditions, recalling the complex hairstyles once worn by women of this ethnic group.
Structure: Unlike classical anthropomorphic statuettes, this piece has a stylized and abstract form. The face is directly connected to a circular or oval shape that descends to a solid base, reminiscent of the shape of a ring or a loop.
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 loop body in brown-red, and the dark base, highlighting the traditional wood polychromy work.
This work bears testimony 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 method. Colissimo within 24-48h, open.
This depicted piece is an African wooden decorative 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, tinted with a light patina (often obtained with kaolin), and features eyes shaped as closed slits, a small mouth and arched eyebrows. Geometric scarifications are also visible, notably on the forehead, a feature common in Punu iconography.
Hairstyle: The top of the head is crowned with a structured coiffure, typical of Punu aesthetic traditions, recalling the complex hairstyles once worn by women of this ethnic group.
Structure: Unlike classical anthropomorphic statuettes, this piece has a stylized and abstract form. The face is directly connected to a circular or oval shape that descends to a solid base, reminiscent of the shape of a ring or a loop.
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 loop body in brown-red, and the dark base, highlighting the traditional wood polychromy work.
This work bears testimony 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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