Most of these objects were originally described as if authentic. Most were not. Those objects that have been vetted as authentic by outside experts (Christophe Rolley, Edith Mbella, Daniel Mato, Rand Ningali, Phil Warish and Ethan Rider) are labelled as such. Objects made for the market are labelled accordingly, and objects in our archives or on pages no longer on our website should be assumed to be inauthentic if not otherwise labelled.
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FANG Style |
RELIQUARY GUARDIANS
Protecting sacred relics (clan founders' skulls & certain bones) and
their living descendants with reliquary guardians is a strong tradition
of four peoples of Gabon; the Fang, Bakota, Mahongwe and Sango. Similar
in function and power, they differ widely in style.
The Fang create 3-dimensional figures, byeri, known for their
childlike proportions and features contrasted with tensed muscles and metal
all-seeing eyes. These figures were guardians of the enshrined relics of
important ancestors. Sitting on top of the containers, they were also consulted
for aid and protection. We include a wide variety of pieces, several on
their cylindrical bark boxes, plus some heads and fetish bundles.
The Bakota guardians, mwete, are flat, more abstracted, with
their oval, concave faces sheathed in metal (brass or copper). Stylized
coiffures and occasional repousee work adorn the "legged head"
figures (A diamond shape below the neck is an abstracted body form.) which
gleamed at night to protect against evil. These figures were mounted on
containers holding relics of important clan ancestors, serving as guardians.
They were also questioned as oracles. We are exhibiting an impressive collection
The Mahongwe reliquaries, bwete, have a tapering shape topped
by a crest, are covered by horizontal brass bands or wires, were danced
with by new chiefs and dedicated to Bwitti, the spirit of the ancestors.The
Mahongwe are a subgroup of the Bakota, and, like them, used these figures
as guardians that were mounted on containers holding relics of important
clan ancestors.
The Sango figures, smaller and less familiar than Bakota and Mahongwe religuary guardians, were usually placed in basketry containers holding relics of important clan ancestors. Sheathed in metal (brass or copper), the figures are abstracted into a diamond shape below the neck. Two of the heads are mounted on iron gongs.
