Tribal Art

Collection of Belgian African tribal art whose name will be communicated to the buyer.
Embodying a lineage founder, this sculpture is distinguished by its concave ogive face surmounted by a tubular protrusion. The piercing eyes are represented by cabochons pierced with a pupil. The surface is set with skilfully juxtaposed copper wires, all evoking for some the serpent naja. The elements of the posterior part symbolize a hairstyle. This sculpture is characteristic of the Mahongwe of the extreme northeast of Gabon, on the border with Congo. The baskets containing the relics of illustrious ancestors, generally surmounted by two reliquaries, were kept in temples in the village. One of them embodied the founder of the lineage, and the second his descendants. br>The worship of the ancestors, the bwete (Northern Kota) was at the heart of the social and religious life of the Kota and presents many analogies with that of the Fang . In the exclusive presence of initiates, the major decisions of the clan were taken during ceremonies during which the reliquaries were taken out and used. In order to reactivate the magic charge, the initiates rubbed the relic with sand.