Mitsitsi reliquary statue in Ngoye. - Ambete - DR Congo (No reserve price)

The mbete, or ambete, come from Gabon, from the upper Ogooué basin, and have developed the art of statuary known as a reliquary for the protection of deceased ancestors. They could also be entrusted with the bones of great dignitaries or notable clan members in order to perpetuate the memory of the lineage. These sacred objects are kept in protective shelters and are of an initiatory nature. Made of wood covered with brass and copper, this piece shows that it has received a great deal of care. Formerly part of a private French collection. Careful shipment in a tracked, insured parcel.