Reliquary for ancestor worship. - City / Bakota - Gabon
02
days
03
hours
50
minutes
59
seconds
Current bid
€ 4
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
 | €4 | |
|---|---|---|
 | €3 | |
| €2 |
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Late 20th-century Kota (Bakota) ancestor-reliquary figure from Gabon, made of wood and metal with bone eyes and sold with a stand.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Gabon
Kota
Metal, wood, eyes are bone
Height: 710mm + base 50mm
Width: 235mm
Depth: 100mm
Statue reliquary guardian figure of the Kota people of Gabon in wood covered with brass plates - Eyes are bone -
Damage due to wood-boring insects on the right side of the base, see detail photo and photos of the lower part of the reliquary.
This sculpture is a reliquary guardian figure for baskets of ancestors, originating from the Kota people (or Mahongwé / Shamaye according to sub-groups), an ethnic group living mainly to the east of Gabon and to the west of the Republic of Congo (Central Africa).
Historically called Mbulu Ngulu, it bears witness to a remarkable mastery of geometric abstraction, marrying wood and metal in an intimate way.
1. Stylistic Characteristics and Composition
This work presents a 2D aesthetic instantly recognizable, characteristic of the great artistic styles of the Ogooué:
• The metal-wood alloy: The piece’s framework is carved from hard wood, entirely covered on its front face with brass or copper plates and lamellae nailed on. The polished yellow metal symbolized light, purity, and the power to repel dark forces.
• The oval face and its decorations: The central face is an oval, slightly convex, structured by a zigzag midline and radiating relief striations. The eyes, semi-circular, are inlaid at the center with dark pupils. A small nasal ridge and a discreet mouth complete this austere, monumental face.
• The crescent headdress: The head is topped with an imposing crescent-shaped headdress (moon or mitre), adorned with dotted and geometric square motifs. On either side of the face, large enveloping lateral fins terminate in cylindrical pendants.
• The diamond pedestal: The sculpture’s base does not depict realistic legs, but a stylized hollow wooden diamond, its upper part veneered with metal engraved with chevrons. The raw wood reverse shows weathering, tool marks, and an ancient sacrificial patina.
2. Use and Ritual Function: The Ancestor Cult (Bwete)
Unlike classical statues, the Mbulu Ngulu was not displayed in isolation and was not meant to be worn as a mask:
• Guardian of the reliquary: This stylized anthropomorphic figure served as a spiritual sentinel. The lower diamond-shaped pedestal was directly inserted and bound inside or above a Bwete basket made of bark or wicker. This basket contained the bone relics (skulls, long bones) of illustrious ancestors of the lineage (chiefs, great hunters, healers).
• Protection and intercession: Placed in the darkness of sacred compartments, the guardian protected the relics from profaners, sorcerers, or evil spirits. The brass was regularly rubbed to keep it shining and maintain its magical efficacy.
• Consultation of the lineage: During family crises, epidemics, hunting departures, or youth initiations, the initiates would remove the baskets of relics. They paid homage to the ancestors with libations and sacrifices to obtain their protection, fertility, and guidance.
Packages are shipped Monday through Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in France within 1 to 3 days 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 of African art African Mask Art arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue African art Statue of African art arte delle statue africane arte delle statue africane
African Mask Art
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, eyes are bone
Height: 710mm + base 50mm
Width: 235mm
Depth: 100mm
Statue reliquary guardian figure of the Kota people of Gabon in wood covered with brass plates - Eyes are bone -
Damage due to wood-boring insects on the right side of the base, see detail photo and photos of the lower part of the reliquary.
This sculpture is a reliquary guardian figure for baskets of ancestors, originating from the Kota people (or Mahongwé / Shamaye according to sub-groups), an ethnic group living mainly to the east of Gabon and to the west of the Republic of Congo (Central Africa).
Historically called Mbulu Ngulu, it bears witness to a remarkable mastery of geometric abstraction, marrying wood and metal in an intimate way.
1. Stylistic Characteristics and Composition
This work presents a 2D aesthetic instantly recognizable, characteristic of the great artistic styles of the Ogooué:
• The metal-wood alloy: The piece’s framework is carved from hard wood, entirely covered on its front face with brass or copper plates and lamellae nailed on. The polished yellow metal symbolized light, purity, and the power to repel dark forces.
• The oval face and its decorations: The central face is an oval, slightly convex, structured by a zigzag midline and radiating relief striations. The eyes, semi-circular, are inlaid at the center with dark pupils. A small nasal ridge and a discreet mouth complete this austere, monumental face.
• The crescent headdress: The head is topped with an imposing crescent-shaped headdress (moon or mitre), adorned with dotted and geometric square motifs. On either side of the face, large enveloping lateral fins terminate in cylindrical pendants.
• The diamond pedestal: The sculpture’s base does not depict realistic legs, but a stylized hollow wooden diamond, its upper part veneered with metal engraved with chevrons. The raw wood reverse shows weathering, tool marks, and an ancient sacrificial patina.
2. Use and Ritual Function: The Ancestor Cult (Bwete)
Unlike classical statues, the Mbulu Ngulu was not displayed in isolation and was not meant to be worn as a mask:
• Guardian of the reliquary: This stylized anthropomorphic figure served as a spiritual sentinel. The lower diamond-shaped pedestal was directly inserted and bound inside or above a Bwete basket made of bark or wicker. This basket contained the bone relics (skulls, long bones) of illustrious ancestors of the lineage (chiefs, great hunters, healers).
• Protection and intercession: Placed in the darkness of sacred compartments, the guardian protected the relics from profaners, sorcerers, or evil spirits. The brass was regularly rubbed to keep it shining and maintain its magical efficacy.
• Consultation of the lineage: During family crises, epidemics, hunting departures, or youth initiations, the initiates would remove the baskets of relics. They paid homage to the ancestors with libations and sacrifices to obtain their protection, fertility, and guidance.
Packages are shipped Monday through Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in France within 1 to 3 days 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 of African art African Mask Art arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue African art Statue of African art arte delle statue africane arte delle statue africane
African Mask Art
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 for ancestor worship.
Ethnic group/ culture
City / Bakota
Country of Origin
Gabon
Period
Late 20th century
Material
Wood / metal
Sold with stand
Yes
Condition
Fair condition
Sold by
