Description: Antique Reliquary GuardianFang PeoplesGabonEarly 2oth Century Collected by naturalist and philanthropist Eli Weiss in the 1980’s.22" tall x 5" x 4" Mounted on Lucite Stand. Wooden Post measures 20" tall. An authentic and extraordinary Nlo Bieri Fang Reliquary Guardian Figure. history of the form from the Metropolitan Museum of Art : "The Fang peoples historically derived a sense of continuity with their past and communal cohesiveness in the present through an ancestral cult known as bieri. Over three centuries, a southwesterly migration into present-day southern Cameroon and northern Gabon occurred village by village, resulting in the loosely structured fluid nature of Fang society today. During its travels, each Fang family brought a bark box containing the skulls of its ancestors. A carved head or figure mounted on top of each reliquary box guarded the sacred contents against the forbidden gaze of women and uninitiated boys. Bieri figures exemplify the qualities the Fang admire in people--tranquillity, vitality, and the ability to hold opposites in balance. These ideals are shown in the balanced forms of the figures. The large head of an infant is juxtaposed with the fully developed body of an adult, and a static symmetrical pose and passive expressionless face are counterbalanced by the tension of bulging muscles. Great Earth LLCCarbondale, ColoradoRepresenting the Eli Weiss Collection of African Art. A lifetime of travel, passion, activism, philanthropy and genuine humanity lead to the accumulation of these wonderful objects spanning a great breadth of the African continent. A vast collection of Significant works of Art & vintage ‘Of Culture’ craft works produced for collectors.Steven is an Artist, Educator and Dealer with an excellent reputation and 25 years of professional experience.I am proud to share this extraordinary group of Artworks.
Price: 1100 USD
Location: Carbondale, Colorado
End Time: 2024-12-30T03:49:38.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Color: Black
Original/Reproduction: Original
Material: Wood
Tribe: Fang
Unit Quantity: 1
Maker: Bieri
