Fang Reliquary Figure, Gabon, custom stand Start Price USD 1,300.00 Current Price USD 1,300.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Sunday, October 05, 2008 End Time Wednesday, October 15, 2008 Location Denver, CO See more about 'Fang Reliquary Figure, Gabon, custom stand' Description Standing male figure. Fang. Gabon. Height 25 inches.Wood, metal eyes, metal necklace and ankle bracelets, leather amulets-contents unknown. Patina is encrusted in places. 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 bent, or shown in a seated position with a narrow stick-like extension reaching downwards from the buttocks. This latter posture enables the figures to perch on the edge of an ancestral reliquary known as a "byeri." The byeri held the bones of ancestors and were venerated through annual ceremonies. Photographed as early as 1907 (Tessmann 1913/1972, vol. II) the cult of Byeri began to lose its prominence after 1910 due to 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 even small cups.**006788** 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!