Fang Headpiece, Ngumba, Gabon, African Start Price USD 1,250.00 Current Price USD 1,250.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Sunday, September 21, 2008 End Time Tuesday, October 21, 2008 Location Denver, CO See more about 'Fang Headpiece, Ngumba, Gabon, African' Description Fang Headpiece, Ngumba, Gabon, AfricanType of Object: Large headpieceEthnic Group: FangCountry of Origin: Gabon Materials: Wood and feathers.Approximate Age: 20th centuryDimensions: Height is 25 inches.Overall Condition: GoodDamage, Repair: Missing feathersAdditional Information: This wooden headpiece comes from an area of transitions of style and form. The shape of the eyebrow ridge and nose and the overall form of the figure-shaped headpiece are similar to Fang sculpture and a number of peoples in western and Northern Cameroon and Gabon. Masks and figures are adorned with features by the Fang and their neighbors in Cameroon and the inclusion of inset beads for eyes is a common practice among them also. This mask may come from a group of the Fang known as the Ngumba or one further west in Equatorial Guinea. This old and well used headpiece must have been even more impressive when it had all of it's feathers in place and perhaps with some coloring to emphasize features. The bottom of the mask is hollowed out to lighten the mask as well as making it easier to wear on the top of the head when it worn during a dance performance. Mask of this type are not common in western collections. Bottom is hollow, with irregular piercings about 3 inches up from the base. I am guessing that it was worn on top of the head. Numerous piercings in the head were doubtles once filled with feathers, of which a few remain. Each eye hole is filled with a bead (they appear to be porcelain "goomba" beads) and an old wound glass bead is on the braided copper wire which is around the neck. Patina is grayish; there appears to have been some kind of a light wash over the face and lower portions of the figure, but not on the top of the head. Recommended Reading: For similar examples, and more information, see ART OF AFRICA by Kerchache et al.**W3014** 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!