Fang Reliquary Figure, Encrusted patina, STAND Start Price USD 490.00 Current Price USD 490.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, October 02, 2008 End Time Saturday, November 01, 2008 Location Denver, CO See more about 'Fang Reliquary Figure, Encrusted patina, STAND' Description Fang Reliquary Figure, Encrusted patina,WELL USED, STAND Type of Object: Carving figure People/Ethnic group: Fang Country of Origin: Gabon, Cameroon Materials: Wood, brass, iron, and pigment Dimensions: Height is 25 inches Approximate Age:  Mid 20th century Overall Condition: Good Damage, Repair: Worn patina, chip in the extension in the back Additional Information: This wooden well worn figure presents muscular arms and feet, low crescent hairstyle, and prominent umbilicus. Sheets brass cover the forehead, the belly,  the arms. Pieces of brass are also encrusted in the eyes.The figure wears an iron collar around the neck and a forged iron anklet on each foot .The patina shows trace of use. As some of the most powerful and best known sculptural forms emerging from Africa, Fang figures hold a prominent place in the history of African art. As reliquary guardians, Fang figures often appear slightly crouched with legs slightly bent or shown in a seated position with a narrow stick like extension often reaching downwards from the buttocks. This latter posture enables the figures to perch on the edge of the ancestral reliquary, a round container, known as a "byeri" with their legs hanging over the side. The byeri reliquary held the bones of ancestors which were venerated through annual ceremonies at which they were present in the form of sculptures.Photographed as early as 1907 (Tessmann 1913/1972, vol. II) the cult of Byeri began to lose its prominence after 1910 due to French colonial government pressure. In the past, figures would often be embellished with native copper bands around arms or wrists and some would hold in front of them miniature ancestor figures or carved animal horns known as "Nlakh" or small cups used in Byeri rituals honoring ancestors.Recommended Reading:  Louis Perrois, 2006, FANG, 5 Continents, MilanNingi Batulukisi, Ph.D. **029199** 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!