Please see Mahongwe Reliquary Guardians Page 2 as well.
Click on a link to see a larger image, unfortunately the pictures are all a little too green.
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Photographs © Tim Hamill
MAHONGWE, RELIQUARY FIGURES, Gabon
Figures like these were mounted on containers holding relics of important clan ancestors, serving as guardians. The Mahongwe are a subgroup of the Bakota, who, like the nearby Fang, also make reliquary guardians. Sheathed in metal (brass or copper strips and wire), the figures are highly abstracted. They are dedicated to Bwitti, the spirit of the ancestors.
In spite of the very nice patina, there is no reason to believe that these pieces have seen tribal use.
GO TO MAHONGWE RELIQUARY GUARDIANS PAGE 2
GO TO MAHONGWE RELIQUARY GUARDIANS ARCHIVES PAGE
RETURN TO METALWORKS EXHIBITION PAGE
RETURN TO METALWORKS EXHIBITION PAGE 2
RETURN TO AFRICAN SELECTIONS PAGE
RETURN TO RELIQUARY GUARDIANS PAGE
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