Reliquary - Mahongwé / Kota / Bakota - Gabon
03
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20
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€ 1
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Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
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Reliquaire sculpture from the Kota Mahongwé of Gabon, made of wood and metal, measuring 420 × 140 × 80 mm, in good condition and sold without a stand.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Gabon
Kota
Metal, wood
Height: 420mm
Width: 140mm
Depth: 80mm
Relic figure statue of the African Kota reliquary of Gabon in wood covered with brass plates
Geographic and stylistic origin
• Ethnicity: Mahongwé (or Mahongoué), a sub-group linked to the Kota cultural group.
• Region: Primarily located in northeastern Gabon (notably in the Mekambo region) and in the Republic of the Congo.
• Stylistic characteristic: Unlike traditional Kota reliquaries (often called Mbulu-ngulu) which display large smooth and flared copper or brass plates, the Mahongwé (Bwété) style is characterized by a concave face entirely covered with a dense winding of wires or thin brass/copper sheets fixed to a wooden core. The eyes are depicted as hemispheres or buttons, and the nose is often a simple relief in dihedral form, as clearly seen on the front of the piece.
Ritual use and function
• Ancestor worship (Bwété): This wooden piece coated with metal is not a statue in itself, but an anthropomorphic protective figure. The base, diamond-shaped or cylindrical, was designed to insert it directly into a basket or a bark reliquary (sometimes a leather bag) that contained the sacred bones (notably fragments of skulls) of prestigious clan ancestors.
• Social and spiritual role: The reliquary acted as a guardian watching over the remains of the deceased to preserve prosperity, fertility, and the protection of the community against malevolent forces.
• Handling: The baskets containing the bones and topped with these figures were kept out of ordinary view by initiates. They were taken out and consulted during major ceremonies, during times of crisis, or during initiations, moments during which the figures received libations and offerings to reactivate their spiritual power.
The packages are shipped Monday through Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France by Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide by 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
Kota
Metal, wood
Height: 420mm
Width: 140mm
Depth: 80mm
Relic figure statue of the African Kota reliquary of Gabon in wood covered with brass plates
Geographic and stylistic origin
• Ethnicity: Mahongwé (or Mahongoué), a sub-group linked to the Kota cultural group.
• Region: Primarily located in northeastern Gabon (notably in the Mekambo region) and in the Republic of the Congo.
• Stylistic characteristic: Unlike traditional Kota reliquaries (often called Mbulu-ngulu) which display large smooth and flared copper or brass plates, the Mahongwé (Bwété) style is characterized by a concave face entirely covered with a dense winding of wires or thin brass/copper sheets fixed to a wooden core. The eyes are depicted as hemispheres or buttons, and the nose is often a simple relief in dihedral form, as clearly seen on the front of the piece.
Ritual use and function
• Ancestor worship (Bwété): This wooden piece coated with metal is not a statue in itself, but an anthropomorphic protective figure. The base, diamond-shaped or cylindrical, was designed to insert it directly into a basket or a bark reliquary (sometimes a leather bag) that contained the sacred bones (notably fragments of skulls) of prestigious clan ancestors.
• Social and spiritual role: The reliquary acted as a guardian watching over the remains of the deceased to preserve prosperity, fertility, and the protection of the community against malevolent forces.
• Handling: The baskets containing the bones and topped with these figures were kept out of ordinary view by initiates. They were taken out and consulted during major ceremonies, during times of crisis, or during initiations, moments during which the figures received libations and offerings to reactivate their spiritual power.
The packages are shipped Monday through Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France by Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide by 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
Reliquary
Ethnic group/ culture
Mahongwé / Kota / Bakota
Country of Origin
Gabon
Material
Wood / metal
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Sold by
