Ambete Standing Memorial Figure, box in back Start Price USD 490.00 Current Price USD 490.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Tuesday, September 16, 2008 End Time Thursday, October 16, 2008 Location Denver, CO See more about 'Ambete Standing Memorial Figure, box in back' Description Ambete Standing Memorial Figure , Box in the Back Type of Object: Carving , Statue Ethnic Group: Ambete Country of Origin: Gabon Materials: Wood, pigment, paint, vegetal fiber, bead Approximate Age: second half 20th century Dimensions: 22 inches Overall Condition: Good Damage, Repair: paint coming out in places, stain, chipsAdditional Information: This is a standing male figure that carries a great deal of visual presence. The strong body has small parallel arms as well as slightly modeled legs and feet. The face covered with white paint is expressionistically powerful with copper alloy studs serving as eyes, a small and straight nose and an open mouth showing pointed teeth. The striations of the hair and the prominent medial crest are characteristic of the Ambete style. It seems like the figure was painted several times. An open box for relics in the back is filled with grass. The figure wears a vegetal fiber skirt. This is a memorial or ancestral figure in a classic style of Ambete. The Ambete live along the border between present day Gabon and the south eastern region of the Republic of Congo. It is an area that in the past saw great population movements and extended trade between different people resulting in shared ritual and sculptural traditions. Like their Kota speaking neighbors the Ambete make use of reliquary figures to honor and commemorate important lineage members. Most Ambete reliquary figures have a small opening at the back of the figure that would be covered by a small door to hold the bones of an ancestor. The cavity in the present figure is filled with vegetal fiber.The figure appears to have some age to it due to the worn surface. This figure will be a good addition to any collection of African Art. I examined this piece and agree with the descriptionNiangi Batulukisi, Ph.D.**033022** All content, including pictures, Copyright Africa Direct Inc., 2006 Add Us To Your Favorite Sellers! Please visit our About Us page. SquareTrade © AP6.0 PesaMember Place a Bid!