Fang Reliquary Head, Gabon, African Art Start Price USD 800.00 Current Price USD 800.00 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 Reliquary Head, Gabon, African Art' Description Fang Reliquary Head, Gabon, African Art Type of Object: carving, head Ethnic Group: Fang Country of Origin: Gabon Materials: Wood, stain pigments, hand-twisted rope, feathers and African Giant Land Snail shells. Approximate Age:  mid 20th century Dimensions: Height is 19 inches. Overall Condition: GoodDamage, Repair: Significant old insect damage, crack in right side of head  Additional Information: Most old-appearing Fang pieces are modern fakes, but I am convinced that this is at least first half of the twentieth century. Patina is encrusted around nose and mouth, mud appears to have been applied around hairline. A circle of fabric, twisted over rope, is nailed in around the base. Hand-twisted rope holds feathers and African Giant Land Snail shells. 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 as though they are 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 and were venerated through annual ceremonies at which they were present in the form of the 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, FANG, 5 Continents, 2006I have examined this piece and agree with the descriptionNiangi Batulukisi, Ph.D. **W2880** 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!