Fang Byeri Figure, EXCEPTIONAL, African Start Price USD 790.00 Current Price USD 790.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Friday, October 03, 2008 End Time Sunday, November 02, 2008 Location Denver, CO See more about 'Fang Byeri Figure, EXCEPTIONAL, African' Description Fang Reliquary Figure (Byeri)   Type of Object:   Carving, Statue, Figure Ethnic Group:  Fang Country of Origin: Gabon Materials: wood, feathers, vegetable fibers Approximate Age:  Early to Mid 20th century       Dimensions: 18 inches       Overall Condition:  Good, wood wear in some places     Damage, Repair:   None     Additional Information: With articulate arms.A fine figure, made of dense, heavy During migrations which took place in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries the Fang people moved to their present area becoming part of a complex overlay of population of approximately 200,000, who stretch from southern Cameroon, through Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. The Fang organized their lives around the family lineage and venerated their lineage's ancestors at family shrines where memorials or reliquary boxes known as byeri, containing their bones were under the care of an elder known as the Esa. Containers made of either bark or woven basketry was surmounted by sculpted figures that guarded the remains of Fang ancestors. Known as eyema-o-byeri these guardian figures were a point of contact for veneration of the ancestors and served to witness and validate the initiation rituals of young men. When not in actual use the sculpted figures were generally hidden from view. Fang figures appear to be slightly crouched with legs bent in a seated position to rest on the container enabling the figures to perch on the edge of the byeri with their legs hanging over the side. This well carved  figure has greater sculptural dynamics than ordinarily found in Fang figures as seen in the Hairstyle and the articulate arms.**029011** 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!