Fang Reliquary Figure Gabon African Tribal Art

Standing 28 inches tall, this statue is of considerably stylized proportion and it impresses the viewers with a tranquilizing stance and meditative and facial expression. With a cylindrical neck that simply extends into the chest and torso, the emphasis was given by the artist to the head. A typical heart shape face with a broad forehead and arched eyebrow recalls the characteristics of a Fang mask. The arrowhead-shape nose leads to a slightly protrusive chin with horizontally rendered lips. The arms were given a curvy and fleshy shape, which hold a libation cup in front of the chest. The muscular legs are shortened and bent at the knee into a sitting position. Copper sheets were used to indicate the eyes, the three sacrifices located in the middle of forehead and the two forearms. A rich black patina is found throughout the statue.

Although the style of this statue appears to be of the Ntumu tribes, a subgroup of Fang spreads over the borders of three countries (Gabon, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea), it has clear influences from the neighboring subgroups of Fang as well. The usage of metal is found more common in Northern Ngumba tribes, which is located in southern Cameroon. The elaborate coiffure with three crests suggests an influence of MvaЇ tribes. This is conceivable given that Ntumu has a central locale among all Fang tribes, which underwent extensive regional interaction and migration, and that Ngumba and MvaЇ are adjacent to Ntumu to the north and east respectively.

All African art pieces were sold as decorative pieces. Your expertise is required to determine its age and whether it was a ritual objects.